How to Get Ahead in Advertising

 Year of Release:  1989

Director:  Bruce Robinson

Screenplay:  Bruce Robinson

Starring:  Richard E. Grant, Rachel Ward, Richard Wilson

Running Time:  94 minutes

Genre:  fantasy, comedy

Denis Dimbleby Bagley (Grant) is a stressed British advertising executive, who is approaching a breakdown while trying to develop a campaign to sell pimple cream.  One day he notices a boil on the side of his neck, which grows at an alarming rate, and quickly develops into a second head, with it's own ruthless personality.  Before long, the boil is taking control of Bagley's life.

Actor turned writer-director Bruce Robinson first made name for himself with the cult film Withnail and I (1987), and here he reunites with Withnail star Richard E. Grant for a satirical attack on advertising in particular and modern British life in general.  It's hardly subtle, but is pretty funny in places.  The humour is very British, with it's schoolboy delight in mess and gleeful surrealism.  Richard E. Grant dominates the film as the alternately hilarious and terrifying antihero Bagley.  Grant is at his manic best here, all flailing limbs, wolfish grins and waspish one-liners.  Rachel Ward provides the beating heart of the film as Bagley's sympathetic wife, Julia, and she does the best she can with the little that she is given to do.  Richard Wilson, who would shortly become Britain's favourite grumpy old man Victor Meldrew in TV sitcom One Foot in the Grave (1990-2000), plays Bagley's crusty boss.  Fans of British television might recognise other familiar faces in small roles, and Sean Bean makes a brief appearance.  The voice of the boil is provided by an uncredited Bruce Robinson.  The amount of hectoring and speeches about the evils of the modern world does become a little tiresome, even though it's hard to argue with what the film has to say, and even though it is very much a product of the late 1980s, it is still quite pertinent.  It's not a great film, the special effects look very cheap, and it's awkwardly paced and runs out of steam before the end.  it does have a moment though, and it is worth a look because it is funny, if you like surreal British dark comedy, and Richard E, Grant gives a fantastic comic performance.

Richard E. Grant learns How to Get Ahead in Advertising