Withnail And I

This British import is a howlingly funny slice of the end of the '60s memorabilia. Two cockney lads, circa 1969, whose lives revolve around drugs, alcohol, and auditions (they are both reasonably unsuccessful actors), take a trip to the countryside for a holiday at Withnail's uncle's cottage. Needless to say, they soon discover that for city boys the rugged outdoors can be a harsh trial, indeed. But environment takes a back seat when Withnail's uncle drops in and takes a fancy to his nephew's friend. Richard Grant is the epitome of comic lunacy as Withnail, Paul McGann is admirably restrained as the "I" who feels that a lifestyle change may be in order for the'70s, Richard Griffiths is comically frightening as the orotund (and simply rotund) Uncle Monty who loves his boys (when he's lucky), and director Bruce Robinson deserves a nod for this, his first directing effort. An offbeat gem.