The violence in this film is supposed (I presume) to be funny, but its just distasteful. Psychological studies show that people ARE influenced by violence on screen. If its portrayed in a positive/justified way then the people watching will be more likely to take violence on board as a way of solving things.We're told in the film we shouldn't judge anyone too harshly. We should. We should judge a violent bully who just beats people up because they've said something he doesn't like. And not positively.This is a caricature of violence. Any number of people have died in street violence from a single punch where they've hit their head on the ground. Its not some comedy event, where after several punches, they just have to get their breath back and rub themselves a little bit. If this was a madcap movie in the "Airplane" genre or an actual cartoon the film might have got away with it. But its neither of those.There aren't any positive likable characters in this movie. That one is just the worst. There is no-one to root for or identify with in the film. Every workplace bully, wife batterer, or abuser will love this movie - as they'll just feel validated by it. Its a movie for them, no-one else.

I never really understood these kinds of films. What we have here are a group of people attracted to one another, and going through the throws of success, sex and life in some kind of hapless social foray. One that really doesn't produce any kind of result. No happy endings here, and for all of the attempt at humor, there isn't too much that's funny here. In this sense it's sort of an old fashioned comedy; i.e. stuff that's not really funny to begin with, but is presented with a kind of humorous attitude. Beyond that, there isn't too much to be made of this film. Mariel Hemingway is gorgeous as ever, and Colin Firth attempts to save a struggling film with superior thesping. The others hold their own in the acting department. Camera angles are fairly plain. There's nothing really inspiring about this film. It promised to be a sex comedy, but doesn't do much for either promise.Watch at your own risk.

This movie is just crap! It's pointless, it isn't funny.I just finished watching and write this in very fresh memory of this disappointing experience. Not even Colin Firth manages to rescue some part of it. And since I'm a complete Firth-Lunatic, that's a weighty conclusion.I can't even finally decide which movie is worse: The Playmaker or Londinium. Playmaker had at least the comfort of some very hot scenes under the shower which saved some of it. But this movie lacks any comfort of any kind.And since in Germany you can only get it dubbed you cannot even listen to his beautiful voice but get this silly boyish dubbing voice. The only slightly amusing scenes are those where Fiona and Allen try to solve their problems by consulting a therapist (Stephen Fry).Well, actually it had some unintentional irony in it when Ben sees his play ruined by Carly (with the dying scene which was just illogic and silly). It was like "art imitating art" if this comparison might be allowed.. Though "art" might not be the right word for it.....This movie is an utterly useless and completely unsuccessful attempt to do a Woody Allen Movie without the spirit, the wit and the timing of Woody Allen.Over and over again I was just asking myself "WHAT??? You can't possibly be serious!!!"Could anyone just explain to me PLEASE why those sudden outbreaks of hooliganism by Allen beating up everybody everytime outside the pub without any reason and doing innocent small talk during and after the act are supposed to be funny????That's not even weird, it's just stupid, silly, idiotic.....Dear Fellow-Firthies, I know we all want to know every movie of ODB but I sincerely recommend to leave it to the very last, when there is no other Firth-movie left to watch (which I pray will never be!).If curiosity overcomes you and you have to watch it before nevertheless be prepared and do have some good ODB-moments at hand to soothe the stale aftertaste....

It needs tightening up to pick up the pace. It had the potential of an outrageous comedy. The acting was uniformly good. The makeup of the cast was good and helped by the use of familiar faces. The sequel should have the audience rolling in the aisles.