The Duke Review – An Amusing, Entertaining Adventure

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Category: Film

Published on Thursday, 21 April 2022 22:03

Written by Janet Walker

The Duke, from Sony Pictures Classics, brings to the screen an entertaining adventure as an unlikely hero of the people finds himself in possession of the kind of opportunity that comes but once in a lifetime.

The film begins with Kempton Bunton, played by Jim Broadbent, standing in a British courtroom entering his plea for stealing Francisco Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London. By the courtroom reaction we understand he is endearing and well thought of by many.

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We then fade to the beginning. Kempton is sitting at his typewriter tapping away completing a manuscript. He heads to the post to mail off his story idea of the BBC. As he returns home, the television police are at his door. It seems that the BBC traced an unauthorized television signal to this very address and without a license, it is a crime.

After much protest, and the entire family, wife, Dorothy Bunton, played by Helen Mirren, and son, Jackie played by Fionn Whitehead, show up to dig deep in the hidden household family money jar, they pay the tax and buy the license. Not before Kempton is sentenced to three months in prison.

His son picks him up and the two ride off on the motorcycle. On the way home he stops at the cemetery where he speaks to his daughter who recently died in an automobile accident.

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When he is released Dorothy issues an ultimatum, its these outlandish causes or the marriage. A rebel with every cause, Kempton decides he needs to go to London to give it one last shot. Television should be free. However, London was not amenable to free television.

So off he went back home. And a man true to his word, he got a day job like everyone else, and tried to be just a normal bloke driving a taxi, which didn't stick, and finally working in the bread factory. After witnessing racial discrimination at the factory, he forgets his promise to his dutiful wife and demands fairness. This, of course, resulted in his termination.

By afternoon, Jackie and Kempton are starring at the most famous painting in all of Britain, Jackie builds a hiding place until they can figure out what do to do with it. Kempton sees this as his chance to elevate the working man's image. So, he is off on his mission to change the world and this time he has a real shot at it. He begins to send ransom notes saying that he would return the painting on condition that the government invested more in care for the elderly, he had long campaigned for pensioners to receive free television.

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With the secret guest hiding in the upstairs writing room, their other son Kenny Bunton, played by Jack Bandeira, arrives needing a place to stay for a few days and his brought his girlfriend. Dorothy tells them they can stay in the writing room.

The Duke is a fun-filled adventure as the most unlikely hero has a second chance at regaining his passion. Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent shine! Entertaining, The Duke is laugh out loud funny. In theaters, April 22, 2022. See it.

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Country: UK.

Language: English.

Runtime: 96minutes.

Release Date: April 22, 2022.

Directed by Roger Michell.

Written by Richard Bean and Clive Coleman.

Produced by Nicky Bentham.

Cast: Jim Broadbent, Helen Mirren, Fionn Whitehead, Anna Maxwell Martin, Matthew Goode, Jake Bandeira, Aimée Kelly and Charlotte Spencer.