Film

Jackboots on Whitehall

Rebecca Sear | Sunday 3 October, 2010 18:09

Have you ever wondered what would have happened if the Nazis had invaded Britain? Probably.

What about if the Nazis had been tiny puppets and Hitler a cross-dresser, camply voiced by Alan Cumming? Almost certainly not. Now, what if the English army (still puppets) were stranded in France and the last few dregs of the English resistance had to rely on the Scots for back-up? Now we’re verging on the absurd. ‘Jackboots on Whitehall’, an alternative history mini-epic, explores just this using cutting- edge puppetry (such a thing does exist!), an army of great British actors and a healthy dose of patriotism.

The story unfolds in a sleepy town in rural Kent where we find the handsome farm-worker Chris (Ewan McGregor). Denied the affections of his sweetheart Daisy by her
cruel father and refused admission to the army due to a freakish disability, Chris is unfulfilled, unlucky in love and desperate for a chance to fight for his country.

However, when the British army become trapped in Dunkirk the Nazis seize their chance to invade and drill under the Channel and straight into Trafalgar Square! Logic aside, with London captured a battle ensues and the resistance buckles. Chris, hearing Churchill’s (Timothy Spall) final plea for help from a surrendered Downing Street decides to Carpe the Diem and rally the troops –in this case an inebriated vicar (Richard E. Grant) an old farm worker (Stephen Merchant) aforementioned love interest/ Vicar’s daughter Daisy (Rosamund Pike) and a peculiar assortment of eccentric village types to fight for Britain’s freedom and rescue England’s green and pleasant hills. On a tractor. Called Betty.

‘Jackboots…’ was the obvious choice to open Raindance Film Festival this year: an impressive cast list, skilfully composed dialogue and expert animation – not forgetting that this is a film from directors/writers Rory and Ed McHenry who are only 23 and 27 respectively. Whilst Ewan McGregor carries the story along nicely, it’s the most oddball characters that provide the heartiest performances and make the film outstanding. Timothy Spall, who lends his voice talents to the character of Churchill, was a fine casting decision and a less accomplished actor would not have supported such a strong role. Then there’s Richard E. Grant, whose portrayal of the ruddy-faced vicar more than a whiff of Withnail about him; surely not by accident.

There’s also The Punjabi Guard, who are commanded by the effortlessly talented and all-round funny man Sanjeev Bhaskar, providing much amusement and a varied base of characters. Not to be underestimated is the talent needed to act when using only voice and the brothers McHenry have matched their clever puppetry to perfectly suited actors. The plot may be predictable in places, but that’s certainly no bad thing. All epic stories are formulaic to a degree; it is through the archetypal lead characters and well-known patterns of plot development that we come to recognise classic storytelling. The story is enriched by a quality cast and plenty of humour to keep things light-hearted, meaning that ‘Jackboots on Whitehall’ has the makeup of a ripping good yarn.

It’s hard to believe that this is only the debut film from brothers Rory and Edward McHenry. It would have been easy to jump on the success of Team America, but instead what we’re given is a film which is unashamedly British, puppets with a touch of Blue Peter’s ‘here’s-one-I-made-earlier’ charm about them, and characters who are over-brimming with eccentricity. The real magic of this film comes in the deliciously funny dialogue, which when twinned with the stellar cast, means no opportunity for a joke is left behind. ‘Jackboots…’ is a film which will certainly triumph at Raindance, and I suspect that it will be the first of many triumphs for the brothers McHenry. Rule Britannia!

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