Kenneth More is cast as planning engineer David Webb, a bland and mild mannered individual, who finds himself on board the Queen Elizabeth sailing to New York. The storyline involves our timid engineer trying to negotiate a high powered loan for his company from wealthy businessman, Roland Culver. More is in my mind miscast as the engineer who initially blunders around the ship, but then undergoes a character transformation, losing his 'stuffed shirt' persona during the voyage, becoming bright, breezy and confident. He looks and sounds too middle aged and one dimensional, hence it beggars belief he was able to win the admiration of so many passengers. His role would have suited a younger man like Donald Sinden or even Jack Lemmon, who both excelled in light comedy. More also tries too hard and his 'it's all jolly good fun' demeanour becomes tiresome. With a thin storyline, it's cardboard characters and woeful dialogue, the film quickly becomes a yawn. The two shining lights are Sid James, who plays the matter of fact, canny and astute ship's steward. Also, credit to John Welsh, who plays the Irish barman. However, despite these two exceptions, the film can only be classified as an underwhelming and tedious comedy!
Review of Next to No Time!
