Swinging with the Finkels
Swinging with the Finkels | |
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![]() U.K. Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Jonathan Newman |
Screenplay by | Jonathan Newman |
Produced by | Thomas Augsberger David Mutch Deepak Nayar Philip von Alvensleben |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Dirk Nel |
Edited by | Eddie Hamilton |
Music by | Mark Thomas |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Moving Pictures Film and Television (United States) Freestyle Releasing (U.S.) |
Release dates |
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Running time | 85 minutes[1] |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Swinging with the Finkels is a 2011 British comedy film directed by Jonathan Newman and starring Mandy Moore, Martin Freeman and Melissa George. The screenplay concerns a wealthy London couple who decide to take up "swinging" (as in "partner swapping") in an attempt to save their struggling marriage.[2][3] The film was picked up by Freestyle Releasing and had a limited release date in the United States on 26 August 2011.[4]
Cast
- Martin Freeman as Alvin Finkel
- Mandy Moore as Ellie Finkel
- Melissa George as Janet
- Jonathan Silverman as Peter
- Richard Shelton as Trevor (original)
- Jerry Stiller as Mr. Winters
- Angus Deayton as Richard
- Edward Akrout as Andrew
- John Barrard as Old Man
Production notes
The 2011 film was based on Sex with the Finkels (2008), an original short film also from director Jonathan Newman.[5]
The film reportedly served as a vehicle for co-star Mandy Moore to extend her acting range beyond "good girl" roles.[6]
Reception
Critics mostly focused on the film's crude, stale humour, one-dimensional characters, and less-than-inspiring portrayal of marriage. On Rotten Tomatoes it has a 0% score based on 19 reviews.[7]
It has been described as 'a contempo contribution to the august British tradition of lame, unfunny sex comedies' by Leslie Felperin of Variety,[citation needed] 'occasionally loathsome' by Brian Orndorf of BrianOrndorf.com,[citation needed] 'excruciatingly wrongheaded and outdated' by Mary Ann Johanson of Flick Filosopher,[citation needed] and 'a bit crude for its own good' by Blake French of Filmcritic.com.[citation needed]
Xan Brooks of The Guardian wrote 'short of having a urethral swab or inserting a cucumber up yourself, it's hard to imagine a more queasy form of torture than this dismal British sex comedy - about a man who has a urethral swab and a woman who inserts a cucumber up herself'.[citation needed]
Peter Sobczynski of eFilmCritic.com wrote: 'Imagine the world's longest, lamest and smuttiest episode of the redoubtable TV classic "Love, American Style" and you have only begun to conceptualize the mind and genital-numbing horror that is Swinging with the Finkels'.[citation needed]
In a more positive vein, Mike McGranaghan of Aisle Seat wrote: 'I'm right down the middle on this one. It's not great, but it's not terrible either'.[citation needed]
References
- ^ http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/swinging-finkels-2010
- ^ "Swinging With The Finkels is a mediocre screenplay". ThisIsLondon.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-07-29.
- ^ "Swinging with the Finkels". IrishTimes.com. Retrieved 2011-07-29.
- ^ http://www.dvdtown.com/news/swinging-with-the-finkels-opens-friday-in-florida-and-california/9034
- ^ De Semlyen, Phil (2011-04-21). New Swinging With The Finkels Poster - Exclusive: Extreme wife swap. Empire Online, 21 April 2011. Retrieved on 2018-06-26 from https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/new-swinging-finkels-poster/.
- ^ Malkin, Marc; Malec, Brett (2010-10-22). Is Mandy Moore a "Raunchy" Swinger? E! Online, 22 October 2010. Retrieved on 2018-06-26 from https://www.eonline.com/news/206860/is-mandy-moore-a-raunchy-swinger.
- ^ https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/swinging_with_the_finkels/
External links