586. Jackboots On Whitehall (2010)

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Alexander Armstrong, Tom Wilkinson

Director: Edward McHenry, Rory McHenry

Running Time: 89 mins

Jackboots On Whitehall is a British film about a fictional German invasion of London in the autumn of 1940, forcing the Prime Minister, the elite Punjabi guard, some American and a troop of loyal Englanders from Kent to retreat to Hadrian’s Wall to save Britain from the Nazi menace.

Well, never have I seen such a display of nonsensical idiocy in my entire life. The plot makes no sense, there are some terrible historical stereotypes, and it’s all a ridiculous fantasy. And that’s the whole point!

Sure, this may not be the funniest film I’ve ever seen, but it gives a jolly good go at trying to be, it may not be particularly intelligent, but it’s designed to be one of the most bizarre satires of all time.

And one of the things that most help it to be that bizarre is the animation. Basically, it’s a never-before-seen (and probably never-will-see-again) try at using little model animatronic people, and while it neither reveals itself to be in a small world, nor ever stops publicising how small it is, it is one of the weirdest things you’ll ever see, perhaps unnecessary, but certainly original.

In terms of the story, it’s a bit of fun. Some of the representations of the Germans (namely Goering and Goebbels) are appalling, and their whole idea of drilling under the Channel into Trafalgar Square is immediately obviously stupid, and although there does come a point where you get these sort of plot lines repeated again and again where you get quite bored of it, it’s easy to accept that the film is trying to be idiotic.

The main downfall, I think, was the comedy. Now, there were some outstanding jokes here and there (Braveheart, Scot Land, Clark Gable etc.), which really made me laugh, but it was on the whole not that funny.

The story was a bit of a laugh, and along with the main jokes, I could enjoy it, but there were some appalling running gags throughout, along with some terrible stand-alone jokes, and they more frustrated than entertained me.

However, seeing as this film is as stupid as anything, but at least admits it from the off, I’m going to give it a 6.7.