Film: 'Bill'

I did not get this at all. An all-British 'comedy' based on, and with the cast of, a children's TV series, 'Horrible Histories', not one programme of which I've ever seen. But as I knew that this was an irreverent take on Shakespeare (specifically, his trying to find fame as a playwright) I thought that it might be quite amusing. It wasn't. At least not to me (Laughs...0: Half Smiles....2) nor did I notice any reaction at all from any other member of the 20-or-so strong audience, all adults as far as I could see. I was minded to go because one of our leading film critics said that he was chuckling all the way through. Chuckles from me were there none. In fact this is the first film in several years where I have left before the conclusion, in this case about 15 minutes from the end.

Playing fast and loose with the facts (with which I have no problem) we see the 30-year old Will S. (Michael Baynton as the 'Bill' of the title) leaving Stratford-on-Avon (where he was a member of lute group 'Mortal Coil') for London, where he's taken under the wing of Christopher Marlowe, who encourages the others writing talent. But in order to make ends meet in the short term both are reduced to dressing up as vegetables, giving out leaflets encouraging members of the public to eat their 'Daily Two'. (Yes, I know that the 'tomato' pictured above is, technically, a fruit.).
The year is 1593, five years following the repulsion of the Spanish Armada by the already ageing Queen Elizabeth's forces. But here the dastardly Catholic King Philip of Spain has sneaked himself into England with a small gang in order to blow up the Queen in a Gunpowder Plot (a decade before the actual failed Catholic plot against King James). Simultaneously, the Queen has commissioned a new play and everyone wants to use the talents of the then unknown Shakespeare, while putting it forward as his own creation.
The only name in the film's cast which I recognised was Damian Lewis.

So, not exactly a barrel of laughs, but it could have worked. If I'd been familiar with the TV series or even the Terry Deary books on which the 'Horrible Histories' is based I almost certainly might have appreciated the film more. But, as it was, for me it was a complete snooze-fest.
Director Richard Bracewell does his best with an unsubtle script, aimed more in an adult direction than towards children, though the one thing that the film definitely does have going for it is that it is very handsomely mounted and photographed by perfect camerawork.

There clearly is an audience for 'Bill' but I am not part of it. So, to be brutally frank in rating it, and in terms of the amount of 'enjoyment' I experienced, all I can give is a measly.......................2/10.