Absolutely Anything (2015)

A group of eccentric aliens confer a human being with the power to do absolutely anything, as an experiment.

Director:

Terry Jones

Writers:

Terry Jones (screenplay), Gavin Scott (screenplay)

Stars:

Simon Pegg, Kate Beckinsale, Sanjeev Bhaskar

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Simon Pegg	...	Neil
Kate Beckinsale	...	Catherine
Sanjeev Bhaskar	...	Ray
Rob Riggle	...	Grant
Robert Bathurst	...	James Cleverill
Eddie Izzard	...	Headmaster
Joanna Lumley	...	Fenella
Marianne Oldham	...	Rosie
Emma Pierson	...	Miss Pringle
Meera Syal	...	Fiona
Mojo	...	Dennis the Dog
Robin Williams	...	Dennis the Dog (voice)
John Cleese	...	Chief Alien (voice)
Terry Gilliam	...	Nasty Alien (voice)
Eric Idle	...	Salubrious Gat (voice)

Storyline

Some aliens, who travel from planet to planet to see what kind of species inhabit them, come to Earth. And if humans are, according to their standards, decent, they are welcomed to be their friend. And if not the planet is destroyed. To find out, they choose one inhabitant and give that person the power to do whatever he/she wants. And they choose Neil Clarke, a teacher who teaches the special kids. He is constantly being berated by the headmaster and is attracted to his neighbor, Catherine, but doesn't have the guts to approach her. But now he can do anything he wants but has to be careful.

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Plot Keywords:

alien | teacher | whiskey bottle | whiskey | big ears | 

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Taglines:

With great power comes total irresponsibility.

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Genres:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language including sexual references, and brief nudity.

Details

Official Sites:

Absolutely Anything Official Site

Country:

UK

Language:

English French

Release Date:

12 May 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Absolutamente todo

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bill and Ben Productions,GFM films,Premiere Picture

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Color:

Color (ACES)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joanna Lumley has appeared in two cinema movies, with the word "Absolutely" in the title, which have been released in consecutive years. They were comedies, Absolutely Anything (2015), and in the following year, Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016).

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Goofs

The human skeleton that lands at the feet of the headmaster after coming to life and jumping through the window is obviously not the same one that was used in the classroom scene. When the headmaster holds it the joints are obviously molded, and it appears to have no weight. It is obviously a lightweight plastic model.

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Quotes

Neil Clarke: Give me a body that people find attractive!
[He turns into a topless woman]
Neil Clarke: No! A male body! Give me the body of a great man!
[Turns into Albert Einstein]
Neil Clarke: No! Give me the body of a man who people find attractive!
[Turns into a hunky guy]
Neil Clarke: Better.

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Crazy Credits

"DISCLAIMER: and yes we do know that the NASA footage of the Pioneer Rocket taking off is actually the Apollo Rockets, thank you"

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Connections

References Life of Brian (1979)

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Soundtracks

Absolutely Anything
Written and performed by Roger Taylor
Recorded and mixed by Josh Macrae (as Joshua J Macrae)
Licensed courtesy of Nightjar Productions Limited
Published by EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING

User Reviews

What Could Have Been....

I was pulled into this movie for its all-star cast and its premise. Absolutely anything could happen. With Simon Pegg, Eddie Izzard, the final cast role of Robin Williams, the Monty Python crew and Terry Jones at the helm, what could go wrong? The answer: absolutely everything.

To begin, the casting of male/female actors makes the viewer feel as though they are living in a world of attractive females and mediocre looking men. I guess that's fine. It worked for Monty Python. Not to suggest there is a better way to cast, however, it all felt pretty glaringly unrealistic to me.

About the comedic elements, although there were some unique laughs brought on by the originality of the screenplay, the whole movie was hard to watch. The lengths at which the CGI animation and set design went to accommodate the silliness of the story was entertaining, but it could hardly satiate the philosophical implications that the narrative proposes. As a viewer, you feel as though you are watching a writer getting away with settling on well-polished, sub-par ideas. Arguably, the bar is set high with a movie featuring a protagonist that can do anything, but still, blehhhhh.....

This film calls to a thinking audience. Yet, any intelligent person will soon find themselves bored with this movie for one reason or another. Although it is very unique, like any over-budgeted action movie, I was left wondering who gave them the money to make this crap happen?

The movie does brush on ethics, morality, the limitations of the human condition and the ramifications of having power over others, but so does Spiderman.... so watch that instead.