Mortdecai Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Johnny Depp grows a terrible mustache, then runs around trying to sell a painting to various nefarious types while his wife gags at the sight of his facial hair, all while his manservant takes bullets for him.

🍿 Mortdecai: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction to Lord Charlie Mortdecai

Lord Charlie Mortdecai, a debonair yet unscrupulous art dealer, finds himself in debt to the UK taxman. His lavish lifestyle and questionable dealings have caught up with him, forcing him to consider selling off family heirlooms to settle his accounts. His trusted manservant, Jock Strapp, is always by his side, ready to extract him from any dangerous situation.

The Stolen Goya Painting

A Francisco Goya painting becomes the target of an elaborate theft, resulting in the murder of an art restorer and one of the thieves. Inspector Alistair Martland, who harbors unrequited feelings for Mortdecai’s wife, Johanna, enlists Mortdecai’s help in recovering the stolen artwork. Martland believes that a known terrorist named Emil Strago is the prime suspect, and he needs Mortdecai’s expertise in the art world to track him down.

The Hunt for Nazi Gold

As Mortdecai investigates, he discovers that the stolen Goya painting may contain a hidden code on its back, leading to a lost Swiss bank account filled with Nazi gold. This revelation turns the art theft into a high-stakes race against various international parties, including a Russian oligarch, a ruthless terrorist, and a wealthy American collector, all vying for the treasure. Mortdecai must use his wit and charm to outsmart his adversaries and recover the painting before it falls into the wrong hands.

Journey to Los Angeles

Mortdecai’s pursuit takes him to Los Angeles, where he attempts to sell his beloved Rolls-Royce to an eccentric American art collector named Milton Krampf. Unbeknownst to Mortdecai, Krampf is also involved in the scheme to obtain the Goya painting. Amidst glamorous parties and dangerous encounters, Mortdecai and Jock must navigate a web of deception and betrayal to secure the painting and uncover the truth behind the Nazi gold.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Mortdecai (Johnny Depp): A debonair yet unscrupulous art dealer and part-time rogue who races to recover a stolen painting while dodging various dangerous adversaries.
• Johanna (Gwyneth Paltrow): Mortdecai’s intelligent and elegant wife who often finds herself exasperated by her husband’s antics but remains a capable partner.
• Martland (Ewan McGregor): An MI5 inspector and former college acquaintance of the Mortdecais, harboring a long-standing affection for Johanna.
• Jock (Paul Bettany): Mortdecai’s loyal and resourceful manservant who frequently protects his employer from dangerous situations.
• Emil Strago (Jonny Pasvolsky): A known terrorist and one of the primary antagonists seeking the stolen painting for his own nefarious purposes.
• Georgina (Olivia Munn): Krampf’s daughter and Strago’s partner in crime, she uses her seductive charms to assist in their schemes to obtain the painting.
• Romanov (Ulrich Thomsen): A ruthless Russian oligarch also in pursuit of the Goya painting, seeking the Nazi gold it supposedly leads to.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Mortdecai: “Your mother and father only knew each other for a day, and money changed hands.” – Mortdecai makes a crass remark to Dmitri about his parents to provoke a reaction.
• Mortdecai: “Have we taken a wrong turn and arrived to a set of a pornographic film?” – Mortdecai says this when arriving at a Los Angeles hotel full of people in bikinis.
• Jock: “I don’t know, sir.” – Jock’s typical response to Mortdecai’s questions about whether things will be alright, highlighting his dry wit.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $60,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $7,696,134
• Worldwide Gross: $47,275,717

💥 Mortdecai Reviews

Personal Review

I wanted to like Mortdecai, I really did. I’m a Johnny Depp fan, and the trailers looked fun. But the movie was a mess. The jokes were repetitive, the plot was convoluted, and the whole thing felt like a self-indulgent vanity project. Paul Bettany was great as Jock, but even he couldn’t save this one. I walked out feeling disappointed and a little embarrassed for everyone involved.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Johnny Depp’s quirky roles”
  • “Viewers who enjoy slapstick comedy”
  • “Those interested in art heist films with a comedic twist”
  • “Audiences familiar with British humor”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Crude Humor”
  • “Violence”
  • “Suggestive Material”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “A bewildering misfire, Mortdecai strands Johnny Depp in a clumsy caper that’s bereft of wit and relies on worn-out stereotypes for its humor. A film best left forgotten.
• IGN: “Mortdecai wants to be a wacky romp, but it’s mostly just a series of unfunny scenes strung together by a paper-thin plot. Depp tries, but even his considerable charisma can’t save this misguided effort.
• The Guardian: “Johnny Depp’s latest eccentric turn is a tiresome exercise in self-indulgence. The film struggles to find its comedic footing, relying on repetitive gags and cartoonish characters that quickly become grating.

Audience Reactions

Paul Bettany as Jock was the only consistently funny part of the movie.: Many agree that Paul Bettany’s performance as Jock was a highlight.

The British humor didn’t translate well for American audiences.: Some viewers felt the humor was too British and didn’t land well.

Overall Consensus: Mortdecai is widely considered a critical and commercial failure, with many finding the humor forced and the plot confusing. While some appreciate Paul Bettany’s performance, the film is generally seen as a misfire for Johnny Depp and director David Koepp.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The teeth worn by Johnny Depp were an homage to legendary British actor Terry-Thomas.”
• “The film is based on the book series by Kyril Bonfiglioli, specifically the first novel ‘Don’t Point That Thing at Me’.”
• “Several reviewers have pointed out similarities in Depp’s performance to Peter Sellers’ Inspector Clouseau.”
• “Despite a star-studded cast and a budget of $60 million, the film was a box office failure, grossing only $47 million worldwide.”

🖥️ How to Watch Mortdecai?

Mortdecai is available for streaming on various platforms. You can find it for rent or purchase on Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for availability on cable or satellite on-demand services.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Mortdecai, you might like these similar films:

• The Pink Panther (1963): Shares the same slapstick comedy and bumbling detective themes.
• Johnny English (2003): Another British spy comedy with a focus on silly humor and ineptitude.
• Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997): Parodies spy films with over-the-top characters and outlandish situations.
• The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014): Features a similarly quirky and eccentric protagonist in a visually stylized setting, though with a different tone.

🛒 Mortdecai Related Products

• Mortdecai (Blu-ray): Own the Blu-ray edition for behind-the-scenes features and a high-definition viewing experience, even if the movie itself wasn’t a masterpiece.
• The Great Mortdecai Moustache Wax Set: Complete set to match Mortdecai’s distinctive facial hair. Comes with wax, comb, and styling guide.
• Rolls-Royce Phantom Model Car: A meticulously crafted diecast model of Mortdecai’s iconic Rolls-Royce Phantom. Features detailed interior and accurate paint job.
• Mortdecai Movie Poster: A reproduction of the original Mortdecai movie poster. A great way to show love to this terrible movie.

🎧 Soundtrack

Mortdecai features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Johanna” – performed by Geoff Zanelli, Mark Ronson, Miles Kane
• “Two Princes” – performed by Spin Doctors

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Johnny Depp with Gwyneth Paltrow on Ellen show ( The movie Mortdecai about ) (Old but Gold)

Want to hear Johnny Depp and Gwyneth Paltrow chat about ‘Mortdecai’ on Ellen? It’s a fun, lighthearted conversation that gives you a peek behind the scenes. Depp is always entertaining!

Johnny Depp in Mortdecai Behind The Scenes

Ever wondered what it’s like on the set of a Johnny Depp movie? This behind-the-scenes video from ‘Mortdecai’ gives you a sneak peek. Honestly, it looks like they were having a blast!

Mortdecai movie review

Thinking about watching ‘Mortdecai’? Jeremy Jahns gives a pretty honest review. He doesn’t hold back, so it’s definitely worth watching to see if it’s your kind of film.

✨ Rate