BURKE AND WANK

JOHN LANDIS' 2010 FILM COMEDY "BURKE AND HARE" IS THE UMPTEENTH VERSION OF THE TRUE CRIME LEGEND.  And it's not terribly good.  However, it's not really bad either.  It's one of those movies which leaves you neither happy nor disappointed but simply unaffected.  I don't really know why.

Of course, you know the story.  In early 20th century Edinburgh, resurrectionists William Burke and William Hare supply cadavers to anatomist Dr. Knox -- and when they don't die fast enough the pair help them along by "burking" them.  Based on true events, the story of Burke and Hare has been filmed often but this time we have a comedy.  Director Landis films an admittedly witty script by Piers Ashworth and Nick Moorcroft competently.  The cast is an incredibly interesting one which should set the screen on fire -- but doesn't somehow.  SHAUN OF THE DEAD'S Simon Pegg and THE LORD OF THE RINGS' Andy Serkis play leads Burke and Hare respectively quite well; Burke is the bumbling dreamer while Hare is the bumbling mercenary.  Isla Fisher (WEDDING CRASHERS) is OK if unmemorable as Burke's love interest Ginny who strives to put on an all-female stage version of MACBETH.  Two-time Oscar nominee Tom Wilkinson (MICHAEL CLAYTON, THE FULL MONTY) is nice as Dr. Knox and Tim Curry (ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW) is amusing as his rival Dr. Monro.  The cast is embarassingly rich with Jessica Hynes (SHAUN OF THE DEAD, DOCTOR WHO), Sir Christopher Lee, Ronnie Corbett (THE TWO RONNIES), Reece Shearsmith (THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN, PSYCHOVILLE), Jenny Agutter (WALKABOUT, Landis' own AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON) and even a cameo by stop motion master Ray Harryhausen as a "Distinguished Surgeon".  All the cast are uniformly wonderful.  So what's the problem?  I still don't know.  It's simply not that funny; despite several witty incidents.  There's just no spark.  But conversely, it's not a bad film at all and, while I can't say I recommend it, I can't also advise against watching it -- if you're so inclined and if you have an hour and a half free.  It's not really possible to get mad at the film or dislike it because it's all rather a harmless lark.  It's a bit of a wank.  And since John Landis is a bit of a wanker -- that all makes sense, I guess.  For a recent movie comedy on a similar subject of body snatchers, seek out the 10 times better I SELL THE DEAD, though, for your money's worth.