I'm not a big fan of Richard Curtis. I guess he is at least environmentally friendly, recycling the same old rubbish but this short TV movie is firmly in the toxic waste category. McDonald and Nighy are excellent actors but what can you do with a lame script full of Curtis retreads? Nigh has the Hugh Grant role, it does not work. We have all the usual "oh gosh, uhm, b*gger b*gger, b*llocks, golly, f*ck" which is what passes for dialogue in a Curtis movie but little of any substance. Even asking McDonald to walk around topless in a cute pair of pink knickers does little to cheer although she may break a few pause buttons on video players. The bedroom scene is just a rerun of Grant/McDowel in 4 weddings.
The movie's message - people are dying in Africa - is laid on so heavily it will probably turn off people who would watch this kind of film. Yes Richard, we know life is short and hard in Africa.
Nighy is a very senior civil servant - we know from Yes Minister etc that he wouldn't have made it to that position if he was really as shy, bumbling and introverted as his character. The whole concept is preposterous and embarrassing to watch, not least for the two leading actors.
The movie's message - people are dying in Africa - is laid on so heavily it will probably turn off people who would watch this kind of film. Yes Richard, we know life is short and hard in Africa.
Nighy is a very senior civil servant - we know from Yes Minister etc that he wouldn't have made it to that position if he was really as shy, bumbling and introverted as his character. The whole concept is preposterous and embarrassing to watch, not least for the two leading actors.