Lavish sets and costumes; debauchery and intrigue set Restoration moving at a terrific pace and the film threatens to be a classic. The first half is extremely watchable. Sam Neill excels as the King; and Hugh Grant displays real acting talent as a manipulative court painter. Unfortunately, both Neill and Grant are on-screen far too infrequently, and that leaves the mis-cast Downey Jnr to trundle along alone as the film very quickly loses its rhythm and slows to crawling speed.
The film is far too ambitious. It's worth watching, if only for the first hour or so; but you will be left wondering what might have been had enough time and effort been given to character development, plot or history that is needed in order for it to become the historical epic that it trys to be. 6/10.
The film is far too ambitious. It's worth watching, if only for the first hour or so; but you will be left wondering what might have been had enough time and effort been given to character development, plot or history that is needed in order for it to become the historical epic that it trys to be. 6/10.