Mixed genre films can be tricky. We wonder if they know what they are. The Merry Gentleman is mostly a noir character piece, but it has incongruous moments where it seems like a boy-meets-girl romance, a sentimental holiday film with religious undertones, or a suspense thriller.
It's mostly redeemed by decent performances, although Kelly MacDonald seems overly sweet, with her cloying naivete and exaggerated Scottish accent, and Michael Keaton is reserved and laconic to the point of being overdone. I found Tom Bastounes to be the most believable character, a sloppy, fumbling, but smart cop who figures out the "mystery."
The film moves slowly and deliberately, but there's enough suspense to maintain our patience. However, suspense requires a payoff, and The Merry Gentleman has an ambiguous ending. Ambiguity, I can deal with, but there's also something inexplicable. Who is the man getting out of the car at the end?
I also saw no need for the romantic interlude in the middle, with some whining pop singer on the soundtrack. It's a jarring shift in mood, and it's also annoying. Why do directors do this?
Overall, though, there's enough intrigue and atmosphere to sustain our interest. I recommend it for viewers in an introspective mood.
Review of The Merry Gentleman
