by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
How do you feel about British cinema? To quote (or paraphrase) Coach Lou Brown from Major League 2, “I love this British stuff! I just might move to England!” I have always been a fan of British entertainment, as I grew up watching plenty of shows with my grand mom and my mother. Whether it was Are You Being Served? or Keeping Up Appearances, I would get plenty of joy out of the British sensibilities in these comedies. This hasn’t changed as I have grown up, which is probably why I was excited to check out Mr. Malcolm’s List once I saw the trailer.
What tale is told in this new British period romantic comedy? Mr. Malcolm is a hard man to court. That darn list just gets in his way. This collection of ridiculously high standards disqualifies (almost) every woman from being his future wife. That certainly complicates things, doesn’t it? Julia (Zawe Ashton) thinks so and does not take kindly to her rejection. But when she molds her friend Selina (Freida Pinto) to Malcolm (Sope Dirisu) and his tiresome expectations to reject him… they fall for each other instead.
Who could have seen that coming? Some might write off Mr. Malcolm’s List as an unoriginal and predictable period romance, but that would not do justice to this quality experience. Bleecker Street continues their quality reputation, as they team with novelist Suzanne Allain in adapting her own tale — she wrote the screenplay for the film. The central concept is an interesting twist on some tired romance ideas. The characters themselves are quite charming and are written with plenty of personality. There might be a few too many subplots and narrative threads, but the supporting characters do make them worthwhile. You will probably see each beat of this tale coming, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun, engaging, and clever (which Allain injects her tale with).
But what about the technical side of things? Director Emma Holly Jones breathes plenty of life and charm into this film. The overall atmosphere is charming, clever, and spirited. Each character gets their time to spread their personality and brings a jaunting good time to the proceedings. The overall tone is knowing and bright. There are few moments that get squarely serious, as the overall ideas and themes of the film are personal and not dramatic on a large scale. The direction is crisp, and the photography is full of personality. Throw in a quality score and you have yourself quite the enjoyable romp.
This film must be a success with such a charming and attractive cast, right? Pinto is radiant in both looks and charm. The audience easily connects with her, and we understand why Dirisu’s Malcolm does too. His strong demeanor is alluring and charming as well. Ashton just might steal the show with her exuberant personality — she is truly the driving force of this narrative, and Ashton rises quite easily to that call. Theo James has moved into supporting roles as of late, and his presence here adds plenty; he is a welcomed addition. There is such a wide and talented ensemble in Jones’ film, and they all come to play.
Is Mr. Malcolm’s List a quality addition to this longstanding and appreciated genre? Certainly. Bleecker Street is almost perfect in their track record, and this was a perfect addition to their catalog. British sensibilities meet modern twists, the themes of love and relationships are universal and relatable. This is the kind of romp you can sit back and enjoy without too much trouble.
Score: 8/10
You can follow Shane Conto on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd