"The Hound of Baskervilles" is apparently a comedy. However, unlike a normal comedy, there are no laughs to be had...not even one. And, if I didn't know it was supposed to be a comedy, I just assumed the people making the film hated Arthur Conan Doyle and his fans and simply made the film to make them angry. And, for those folks who are NOT fans--the film won't satisfy either.
The problems with the film are many. First, the script is terrible and as I said already, there are no laughs. The humor is very, very broad and there never seem to be any punchlines. Second, the stars, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, are dreadful. In particular, Dudley Moore plays Dr. Watson as if he's brain damaged--and there's no subtlety whatsoever in his performance. I am not exaggerating when I say he plays the part as if he's a high school student in a comedy play about Sherlock Holmes. The film drones on and on and on and eventually, I was so bored and turned off by the film that I turned it off--something I very, very rarely do. I found it to be a painful and miserable experience watching the film. I would have enjoyed a nice comedy about Holmes....this one sure isn't it.
The problems with the film are many. First, the script is terrible and as I said already, there are no laughs. The humor is very, very broad and there never seem to be any punchlines. Second, the stars, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, are dreadful. In particular, Dudley Moore plays Dr. Watson as if he's brain damaged--and there's no subtlety whatsoever in his performance. I am not exaggerating when I say he plays the part as if he's a high school student in a comedy play about Sherlock Holmes. The film drones on and on and on and eventually, I was so bored and turned off by the film that I turned it off--something I very, very rarely do. I found it to be a painful and miserable experience watching the film. I would have enjoyed a nice comedy about Holmes....this one sure isn't it.