About A Cock and Bull Story (2005)
Michael Winterbottom directs this off-beat comedy about an attempt to film Laurence Sterne’s ‘unfilmable’ 18th century novel ‘The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy’. Crossing the line between the world of the film and the life of the actors trying to make it, Steve Coogan plays both himself and Tristram Shandy, while Rob Brydon plays himself and Toby. As both comedians find their working relationship off-set by professional jealousies, in the world of the film, the affable, eccentric Toby is pursued by the beautiful Widow Wadman (Gillian Anderson) as Tristram finds the story of his life increasingly difficult to tell without getting drawn into lengthy digressions.
Starring: Steve Coogan, Gillian Anderson, Jeremy Northam
Directed by: Michael Winterbottom
Runtime: 94 minutes
Studio: HBO Home Video
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Review: A Cock and Bull Story
I remembered studying The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy at university. I wrote an essay under exam conditions on it and got 74%, my highest ever mark, a 1st class distinction, yet I’d only read 10 pages of this unusual and complex novel. Its author Lawrence Sterne was experimenting with the written word and rifling through the narrative you find sermons and even pages that are completely black. Most unusual but I was naturally intrigued at the prospect of A Cock and Bull Story where Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon are on set trying to make a film of Tristram Shandy with hilarious consequences.
Coogan and Brydon play themselves but on set Coogan is taking on the roles of Tristram Shandy and Tristram’s father while Brydon plays Uncle Toby who is obsessed with war but suffered an injury in a very tricky place during a previous battle. On set the rivalry between Coogan and Brydon veers from harmless banter to serious rivalry as Coogan juggles many responsibilities. He’s tempted at the prospect of a fling with Jennie (Naomie Harris) while his girlfriend Jenny (Kelly MacDonald) has shown up with their baby and is hoping to snatch a few hours with Coogan in their hotel room. The film follows the general chaos of a film set as the storyline is chopped and changed while Coogan’s personal life threatens to ruin the whole thing.
I’ve never been a massive fan of Steve Coogan but he works well in A Cock and Bull Story along with Rob Brydon. The frustration that boils over for the filmmakers when it comes to tackling Tristram Shandy is completely justified and the snippets we get are few and far between. There is the small matter of Tristram’s conception where his father’s adjusting of the clock downstairs facilitates smoother lovemaking with his wife Elizabeth (Keely Hawes). Tristram’s conception follows his father forgetting to adjust the clock and let’s just say it’s far from a pleasant experience between the sheets! Poor Keely Hawes spends the bulk of the film doing the birth scene which obviously involves screaming a lot. The best bit comes when a decision is made to bring in Uncle Toby’s romance with the Widow Wadnam and Gillian Anderson is cast as the Widow! This leads to a crisis for Brydon who confides in Coogan that he is a great admirer of Gillian Anderson and the prospect of love scenes with her are both exciting and terrifying.
A great cast is on offer here to support Coogan and Brydon. David Walliams, Dylan Moran and Stephen Fry are just a selection of the British talent that pop in for a cameo. A Cock and Bull Story has many amusing moments including those taken from the book where a young Tristram is accidentally circumcised with the aid of a window closing very quickly (ouch!). As the film progresses Coogan begins to reassess his life, losing the competitive and selfish streak of the opening reels and coming to realize a few important lessons in life, not least his patient girlfriend who waits around for hours on set just to grab a few minutes with him. By the end Coogan is a more likable actor on set and even pits aside his rivalry with Brydon for the good of the film.
There is no dramatic Hollywood ending here. The film is eventually finished but you’ll be left guessing right up to the end just which bits are included and which are taken out. What’s not in doubt is this is a lot of fun with Coogan and Brydon leading proceedings admirably while a great supporting cast all contribute well. This isn’t the funniest comedy you’ll ever see and if you know nothing about The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy then it may be a bit confusing in places but it’s still worth a look.
A Cock and Bull Story captures the pandemonium that is the Tristram Shandy novel. Despite seeming unfilmable the film crew do their best to bring it to the screen and it’s great watching a film both on set and during the filming process, the clash of personalities offset being the most fun.
Verdict: 4/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: A Cock and Bull Story | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
