"Fawlty Car"

3 January 2016

60s

John Cleese administers another damned good thrashing.

There was some debate at DAVID HQ about the number of stars we should give this. It's John Cleese reprising a scene from one of the greatest comedies ever made and while it's not the first time he's been asked, it's the first time he's agreed to do it... that, in itself, ought to be enough to earn it five stars.

Add to that the fact that it's such an iconic moment from Fawlty Towers and you've surely got a combination of assets that makes it impossible to be churlish about any creakiness in Cleese's performance.

Well, not quite. At the grand old age of 76, it's not really surprising that Cleese finds it difficult to replicate physical comedy he originally performed in his 30s and there's a slight sense of embarrassment at watching him put himself through it.

And the updating of the sequence to include interaction with the car is arguable... while it adds an extra layer for Fawlty's anger management problems, it hits a jarring note for the purist.

According to the 'making of' video, Cleese agreed to do this because he liked the idea; although - as he's spent the last few years complaining of penury brought about by multiple divorces - there may have been another reason he agreed to participate.

Even so, it seems likely to us that affection for Cleese and his character will overcome these reservations and this commercial will be widely admired.

UK

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