Cert 15
134 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong sex, violence, gory images
There have been some right old wacky films at the cinema over the past few weeks but bonkers isn't always impenetrable as Matteo Garrone's Tale Of Tales proves.
This is a film in which a king becomes obsessed with a giant flea, a queen becomes pregnant by eating the heart of a slain sea monster and another king falls for the voice of an old harpie,
In between, a star cast go completely off beam to enact an adaptation of an Italian novel.
And not all of them have much time on screen. John C. Reilly, for example, might have duffed over the aforementioned monster but that doesn't win him more than a cameo role.
Garrone's film focuses on three separate fictional medieval royal houses which have eccentric heads.
The first is initially led by Reilly but after his death falls into the hands of the queen (Salma Hayek) who gives birth a day after becoming pregnant but finds little joy with an insolent child.
The second sees Toby Jones as king and whose nurturing of a flea into a giant has dire consequences for his daughter (Bebe Cave).
And finally, there is the sex-obsessed monarch (Vincent Cassel) who demands a liaison to a damsel with a beautiful voice, little knowing that she is a wizened old hag.
It is disparate, sometimes disturbing and none of it makes much sense and yet I was engrossed by its craziness and was kept guessing what on earth was going to happen next.
Reasons to watch: some quality acting from a meaty cast
Reasons to avoid: it's all a bit bonkers
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: yes
Overall rating: 7/10
Star tweet
Happy earth day! This picture is from my movie Tale of Tales. Today in the US #EarthDay #TaleOfTales
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