Ian McKellen stars in a weak drama that doesn’t live up to his talents

As a critic preparing to write about The criticI feel somewhat intimidated. The eponymous writer at the center of Anand Tucker’s period drama, Jimmy Erskine (Ian McKellen), uses his words as a weapon against the actors and directors who dare him to present a terrible performance. He is brutal, and takes pleasure in every cutting word he has his faithful secretary Tom (Alfred Enoch) type up. I couldn’t be further from Jimmy, so I’m disappointed to have to write this The critic was much less fun As I hoped it would be.

As the very revealing trailer suggests, The critic is a wicked tale of blackmail, sex and death. There is an expectation that it will be a comedic delight, the kind of movie you watch to gasp and laugh in equal measure. instead, Some creative decisions and underwritten characters leave me underwhelmed. The movie gets off to a decent start, introducing us to Jimmy, a distinctive character played brilliantly by McKellen, who seems to enjoy his nastiness.

The critic is filled with characters and twists

Very few make an impression

Jimmy is the chief drama critic for The Daily Chronicle, And he wears the position with undeniable pride. He also enjoys the benefits enough, which is why a sudden change in management throws him for a loop. The previous owner of the paper has died, and his son, Viscount Brooke (Mark Strong), takes over. Jimmy is used to reviewing theater in his own way, but his cruel opinions quickly run afoul of how Brooke wants to do things. This, along with Jimmy’s known but never directly addressed strangeness, makes him a target.

The back-and-forth between Jimmy and Brooke, representing the old guard and the new, might be enough to serve a meaty rivalry plot, but their stories are also intertwined with troubled actress Nina Land (Gemma Arterton). Although Nina often gains the praise of those around her, she has never been able to please Jimmy, who, as Nina explains at one point, likens her to “Animals, creatures of the sea, and an extinct bird.” Despite this, Jimmy soon realizes that Nina may be the key to besting Brooke and keeping his job.

It is difficult to gauge how much to discover about The critics plot, both because the trailer makes no secret about certain twists, and Because the twists are easy to guess. Suffice it to say, Jimmy uses Nina to manipulate Brooke, and the fallout from that is messy. It also implicates the figures surrounding the central trio, including the aforementioned Tom, lover artist Steven (Ben Barnes), and Steven’s wife, Cora (Romola Garai), who happens to be Brooke’s daughter.

Beyond Jimmy, few characters in The critic Stand out enough to register as key players. While Barnes is always a welcome presence, his storyline is noticeably separate from everything else initially, and later developments that bring him closer to the central narrative only make him feel more out of place. The great Leslie Manville is wasted in a small part as Nina’s mom. Most frustratingly, we’re meant to believe Jimmy and Tom have a long, complex relationship, but they barely get enough moments together to sell it. Just this Power The ending, which needs this dynamic to work, falls flat.

Critic’s choppy editing adds to its storytelling woes

It makes for a boring scandal

The exception to The critics character problem is Nina, with Arterton give an excellent performance Which lends depth to a character who falls into more than a few stereotypes. For all that The critic Try to appear daring, it is actually a fairly straightforward and familiar tale. It carries all the punches that one would expect from such a drama, from the various deaths that come to the issues.

Tucker decided to rely on clever editing to inject some intrigue into the story, but the overall effect is more choppy than graceful. The film often cuts abruptly to different scenes and timesLike setting up for a big reveal, but it only serves to muddy the narrative and add to the frustration. This is especially true at the end, when The critic Skip over a major development and instead convey it via a newspaper headlong glamped over someone’s shoulder.

What we are left with is a movie with fantastic actors who give great performances, except few get the chance to do anything, and the story they inhabit seems to be more scandalous than it is. I really wanted to see more of Enochwhose character seemed much more attractive than the scenes he was given. McKellen and Arterton are the clear winners here, as the dynamic between Jimmy and Nina is the most fascinating element of the movie. The strange mentor-mentee relationship that springs up between them leads to some great scenes. I wish the rest of The critic Matches that quality.

The critic Releases in theaters on Friday, September 13. It is 101 minutes long and rated R for some language and sexual content.