A Bunch of Amateurs

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User Ratings: 421

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Movie Info

Jefferson Steel is an ageing Hollywood action hero. He's vain, insecure and out of work. In a final attempt to find Jefferson work his agent stumbles upon the perfect role: playing King Lear at Stratford-upon-Avon. Jefferson believes he has landed the role of a lifetime; arriving in the UK to discover that instead of a leading role in a Stratford-upon-Avon, he is booked to tread the boards with an amateur dramatic society in the sleepy English village Stratford St John, Suffolk. A clash of cultures with comic complications ensues in this funny and ultimately moving comedy.

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Art House & International, Comedy
Directed By:

Andy Cadiff
In Theaters:

Dec 31, 2009 wide
Runtime:

96 minutes
Studio:

CinemaNX

Cast

Burt Reynolds

Camilla Arfwedson

Charles Durning

Derek Jacobi

Elesia Ennis

Imelda Staunton

Samantha Bond

Ty Davies

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Critic Reviews for A Bunch of Amateurs

All Critics (2) | Rotten (2)

There's something faintly embarrassing watching fading movie star BURT REYNOLDS, who looks embalmed, playing fading movie star Jefferson Steel, and something even more embarrassing when we're asked to accept that he makes a resounding success as Lear.

Oct 9, 2009 | Rating: 2/5

David Stratton
At the Movies (Australia)
Overcooked to the point of being burnt, this total misfire in which Burt Reynolds' ageing has-been Hollywood actor finds himself in an amateur production of King Lear in England, is a fish-out-of-water comedy gone badly wrong.

Oct 2, 2009 | Full Review…

Louise Keller
Urban Cinefile

View All Critic Reviews (2)

Audience Reviews for A Bunch of Amateurs

Dec 29, 2013

What could have been an enjoyable fish out of water English comedy is let down by a ridiculously low budget and dire acting from Reynolds. He doesn't seem to be awake for the whole film and there is none of the charisma he gave to most of his roles in the 70's and 80's (or even 'Boogie Nights'). It was a nice idea to use an actual ageing action star to play the role of an ageing action star but because Reynolds can't be bothered to put the effort in there's no way you'd believe he could pull off the role of Lear successfully. This isn't helped by the fact that he's surrounded by much better stage actors like Jacobi and Staunton who at least put some effort into their paper thin roles. Bond is also good but the faint romance sub-plot with Reynolds comes to nothing as they have no chemistry between them. Don't both with these bunch of amateurs!

David S Super Reviewer
Aug 23, 2009

reynolds plays a faded hollywood star going to england to unknowingly do a amatur play,doing shakespeare, it takes time to get use to reynolds charactor,as a stuck up star, but once there hes okay, quite aaverage story also, but it does have that english charmwhich keeps it going

scott g Super Reviewer
Jul 30, 2009

Cosy am-dram luv in which is completely bland like a warm ovaltine on a Sunday night.

Gordon A Super Reviewer
Jun 06, 2009

I thought this was gonna be straight to DVD crap but it actually quite a nice charming little film about a big head Hollywood actor trying his luck in a small English village with the local thesp troop and some Shakespearian roles. Its not groundbreaking or anything but it is a good, fun funny little film with a great performance by Burt Reynolds and all the supporting UK cast members, especially Derek Jacobi as a jealous thesp hehe Really enjoyed it, shame its missed the big screen and better attention.

Phil H Super Reviewer