The Emperor's New Clothes is a droll high-concept comedy: Napoleon finds a look-alike to replace him in his exile in Saint Helena, but his attempts to retake the throne are thwarted by his blooming relationship with a pretty widow.
The Emperor's New Clothes is pleasant fluff, elevated by a few canny scenes and by Ian Holm, a great actor we've seen in dozens of movies and yet every time disappears in the character, whether he is playing an ambulance-chaser lawyer or a traitorous android, a meek Hobbit or a royal physician. Here, for the third time in his career in the role of Bonaparte, Holm gives once again a note-perfect performance, mixing steel, pride and yearning for a second chance.
The script's main flaw is not milking its premise to full extent - the scenario of the fake Napoleon (Holm again, hilarious), a self-absorbed fool replacing the exiled emperor and obviously loving every minute of the deception, is ripe with comedic potential but explored only in a few passing scenes.
Filmed in the lovely Italian city of Turin - nicknamed "the little Paris" - as a stand-in for the French capital.
6,5/10
The Emperor's New Clothes is pleasant fluff, elevated by a few canny scenes and by Ian Holm, a great actor we've seen in dozens of movies and yet every time disappears in the character, whether he is playing an ambulance-chaser lawyer or a traitorous android, a meek Hobbit or a royal physician. Here, for the third time in his career in the role of Bonaparte, Holm gives once again a note-perfect performance, mixing steel, pride and yearning for a second chance.
The script's main flaw is not milking its premise to full extent - the scenario of the fake Napoleon (Holm again, hilarious), a self-absorbed fool replacing the exiled emperor and obviously loving every minute of the deception, is ripe with comedic potential but explored only in a few passing scenes.
Filmed in the lovely Italian city of Turin - nicknamed "the little Paris" - as a stand-in for the French capital.
6,5/10