Various competitors from 15 different countries start off at 5 different checkpoints in order to compete in the Monte Carlo rally; those drivers that make it to the pre-arranged checkpoint at Chamberry in the French Alps will then complete the final leg to Monte Carlo. However, all 5 routes will take the drivers across some of the most challenging roads and inevitably mayhem and problems ensue along the way.
The first thing that's obvious with this film is that it hasn't aged particularly well; there are several scenes where the film has been sped up which I can only assume was done for comedic effect, this may have been funny at one time, but viewing this film in 2014 it looks cheap and to me isn't particularly funny. Likewise, the opening scene has many instances that I considered to be 'dumb' but funny - the scene where the guy crosses a river on the back of an elephant, disappears under the water and emerges on the back of a crocodile was completely stupid, but I'd be lying if I said that it didn't make me laugh. This early scene really sets the tone for the film, it's just 'dumb' fun and I suspect that if you didn't find the opening scene funny then you may find that you will not enjoy the film as a whole.
Aside from the silly scenes where the film has been sped up, the rest of the film generally works. The main characters that enter the rally have their own agendas for entering the rally and these set-ups create some interesting and often hilarious rivalries - the Curtis/Thomas rivalry is by far the funniest and thankfully this rivalry gets the most focus. I think that they share the funniest scenes and this is helped by wonderful acting by both Curtis and Thomas. Curtis is energetic, charismatic and perhaps slightly arrogant whereas Thomas is the uptight toff - both actors play off each well. Sykes stars as Perkins who is Thomas' long suffering assistant and also plays his role well too. The German and Italian involvement in the Monte Carlo rally does tend to fall back on clichés regarding their nations which is a little disappointing, but we do get enough laughs from their various mishaps for this not to matter so much.
Monte Carlo or Bust is a dumb and silly film no question, but it did consistently tickle my funny bone - there are a few scenes that really got me laughing. It's not a perfect film and not all of it works, but more than enough of it works to make it worth watching.
The first thing that's obvious with this film is that it hasn't aged particularly well; there are several scenes where the film has been sped up which I can only assume was done for comedic effect, this may have been funny at one time, but viewing this film in 2014 it looks cheap and to me isn't particularly funny. Likewise, the opening scene has many instances that I considered to be 'dumb' but funny - the scene where the guy crosses a river on the back of an elephant, disappears under the water and emerges on the back of a crocodile was completely stupid, but I'd be lying if I said that it didn't make me laugh. This early scene really sets the tone for the film, it's just 'dumb' fun and I suspect that if you didn't find the opening scene funny then you may find that you will not enjoy the film as a whole.
Aside from the silly scenes where the film has been sped up, the rest of the film generally works. The main characters that enter the rally have their own agendas for entering the rally and these set-ups create some interesting and often hilarious rivalries - the Curtis/Thomas rivalry is by far the funniest and thankfully this rivalry gets the most focus. I think that they share the funniest scenes and this is helped by wonderful acting by both Curtis and Thomas. Curtis is energetic, charismatic and perhaps slightly arrogant whereas Thomas is the uptight toff - both actors play off each well. Sykes stars as Perkins who is Thomas' long suffering assistant and also plays his role well too. The German and Italian involvement in the Monte Carlo rally does tend to fall back on clichés regarding their nations which is a little disappointing, but we do get enough laughs from their various mishaps for this not to matter so much.
Monte Carlo or Bust is a dumb and silly film no question, but it did consistently tickle my funny bone - there are a few scenes that really got me laughing. It's not a perfect film and not all of it works, but more than enough of it works to make it worth watching.