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Bernard and the Genie [1991]
![Bernard and the Genie [1991]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51wU3I6lVFL._SL160_.jpg)
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Bernard and the Genie - should be on DVD
Review date: 2007-12-20 Rating: 10 out of 10
Fast moving and very funny. Lenny Henry, Rowan Atkinson and Alan Cumming are all excellent in this. Thank goodness I recorded it off the telly years ago and the copy is still OK!!! It should definitely be on DVD for all to see. Both my children loved it.
A film-quality "made for TV". Lenny Henry is wonderfully over-the-top as a genie who has e.g never before eaten a burger, & doesn't understand the modern gadgets etc. that we take for granted, and who eagerly explores modern living with gusto and zest, but who starts to miss his old life and his girlfriend of circa 2,000 years ago, whose papyrus image he touchingly takes out to look at!! Rowan Atkinson is wonderfully mean, scrooge-like and bullying to his employees. Alan Cumming is understated and believable as one of his down-trodden employees, who is then surprised and bewildered by the turn of events when he meets the genie. Brilliant!
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Reviews
Christmas Movie, Family Entertainment
Review date: 2007-12-16 Rating: 10 out of 10
I've been trying to own a copy of this film since I've had spending money to do so! I remember watching this at Christmas on BBC1 when it was aired, so it's inevitable I'm afraid that this review is through the rose-tinted spectacles of nostalgia;
It follows the story of Bernard (Alan Cumming) who works at a Art buyers, with Rowan Atkinson as his villanous boss and scheming art dealer. In true fairy-tale spirit Bernard aquires a genie and seeks to right the wrongs he encounters. When one of his wishes results in police believing he's an Art Thief things start to go wrong for him.
I don't want to give the ending of the story away but we all know panto stories see the baddies being thwarted and the goodies winning through.
Lenny Henry plays the genies coming to terms with the modern world in stark comparison to the world he left and provides much comic distraction. Excellent staging and direction and a high calibre cast present this witty piece of work.
Written by Richard Curtis it's certainly of his bittersweet, happy ending everybody-feels-better-after-watching-it style. If you don't like Curtis stories you probably won't like this, but if you do, you'll find a pleasing satisfaction with seeing Atkinson's Art Dealer's nasty little exploits come back to bite him.
B&TG.. Classic!
Review date: 2007-08-12 Rating: 10 out of 10
Why oh why oh why has this not been a) repeated on TV and/or b) released on region 2 dvd? It's a sin!
Bite my Beeetroot!!! It is THE christmas movie!
And you are a large turd of a man in a horrible pink shirt.
:o)
The best Crimbo film ever!
Review date: 2007-04-23 Rating: 10 out of 10
I cannot believe this has not found its way onto our screens with the same regularity as other standards. This is simply in the same league as A Wonderful Life for feel good factor, but with the added bonus of some real laugh out loud moments. Come on Beeb get this out on DVD.
The best christmas film EVER!
Review date: 2006-05-19 Rating: 10 out of 10
We once owned a video of this fantastic film that i inherited from my cousin. I loved it from the first time I watched it, but then it got borrowed and was lost, never to be found again!
I can't believe that it hasn't ever been repeated on TV at christmas time, I check the TV guide every year just to see if it will be on, but it never is. We have eventually got a new copy of this film after spending many hours searching for it online and all my friends have now fallen in love with it. Trust me you need this film in your life!
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Alan Cumming
Lenny Henry
John Gabriel (III)
Rowan Atkinson
Denis Lill
Creators:
Lenny Henry (Primary Contributor)
John Gabriel (III) (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Televista
Manufacturer: Televista
EAN: 0018619960899
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Colour, NTSC,
Release date: 2007-09-04
Universal product code (UPC): 018619960899
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Running time: 70 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1992-12-13
Language: English (Original Language)