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Withnail & I 15 rating

Richard E. Grant steals the show in the indomitable cult classic following two washed-up actors as they embark on a booze-filled getaway to the Lake District.

Comedy 1988 107 mins

Director: Bruce Robinson

Overview

Endlessly quotable and unequivocally British, Withnail & I expertly captures the freewheeling spirit of the late sixties in a country struggling with identity and purpose. Richard E. Grant gives the performance that defined his career as the privileged but vulgar Withnail, the struggling actor who embarks on a booze-filled getaway to the Lake District with his friend Marwood (Paul McGann). The dark humour flows as freely as the wine in this enduring cult classic.

β€œWe want the finest wines available to humanity, we want them here and we want them now!” is a line exclaimed in pubs all around the British Isles. The impact of Withnail & I on larger culture cannot be underestimated with the comedy and pathos of the script coming together to create a wonderfully nihilistic and chaotic reverie for the ages. More dedicated fans of the film have even invented a drinking game in which they try to keep up with Withnail throughout the film’s running time.