Saw this recently on the Talking Pictures channel (UK - old films and TV shows) over 30 years after it was made.
It's long had a reputation as one of Caine's worst films, and I've a feeling he joked about it in an old i'view? So I was surprised that it wasn't as bad as feared, as other reviewers have said, it had a good cast, and Clement & Frenais writing and directing (look up their sitcom credentials?!).
One reviewer suggests Caine isn't comfortable with comedy, presumably didn't see California Suite (he and Maggie Smith) or perhaps the Woody Allen film, Hannah and her Sisters?
Reviewers seem unsure just what the film was sending up, colonialism perhaps, with some jibes at Thatcher (a very easy target?!), or maybe just Capitalism, and pretentiousness in general, with several American stereotypes in evidence, and the much missed Leonard Rossiter giving us perhaps the ultimate Civil Service stuffed shirt.
It looked a bit unsure at times if it was trying for a Carry-on type audience (without the smutty jokes) or pushing a pin into the British stiff upper lip attitudes, but if it pops up on a TV screen near you, do give it a try.
I didn't hate it, but I'd rather have seen Caine, Rossiter, Billy Connolly and the rest in something else, maybe a film that didn't look like a plane-load of actors and crew had wangled a 2 week holiday on St Lucia, on the proviso they knocked out a film in the time? And maybe the title didn't help? 'Water' sounds a bit bland?
It's long had a reputation as one of Caine's worst films, and I've a feeling he joked about it in an old i'view? So I was surprised that it wasn't as bad as feared, as other reviewers have said, it had a good cast, and Clement & Frenais writing and directing (look up their sitcom credentials?!).
One reviewer suggests Caine isn't comfortable with comedy, presumably didn't see California Suite (he and Maggie Smith) or perhaps the Woody Allen film, Hannah and her Sisters?
Reviewers seem unsure just what the film was sending up, colonialism perhaps, with some jibes at Thatcher (a very easy target?!), or maybe just Capitalism, and pretentiousness in general, with several American stereotypes in evidence, and the much missed Leonard Rossiter giving us perhaps the ultimate Civil Service stuffed shirt.
It looked a bit unsure at times if it was trying for a Carry-on type audience (without the smutty jokes) or pushing a pin into the British stiff upper lip attitudes, but if it pops up on a TV screen near you, do give it a try.
I didn't hate it, but I'd rather have seen Caine, Rossiter, Billy Connolly and the rest in something else, maybe a film that didn't look like a plane-load of actors and crew had wangled a 2 week holiday on St Lucia, on the proviso they knocked out a film in the time? And maybe the title didn't help? 'Water' sounds a bit bland?