|
| Miramax | Release Date: February 2, 1996 |
Starring:
David Thewlis, Hugh Grant, Ian McDiarmid, Ian McKellen, Mark Letheren, Mary MacLeod, Meg Ryan, Polly Walker, Robert Downey Jr., Sam Neill
Summary:
The exiled royal physician to King Charles II devotes himself to helping Londoners suffering from the plague, and in the process falls in love with an equally poor woman.
Watch Now
| Buy on |
|
| Stream On |
|
| Stream On |
|
| Stream On |
|
For all its shortcomings, Restoration is miles beyond most historical epics. [26 Jan 1996, p.51]
Blinking his puppy-moist eyes and grappling with an English accent, Downey struggles so manfully in the role that one cuts him a lot of slack; working earnestly on her Irish brogue and mussing up her cupcake demeanor in the service of verisimilitude as a wise madwoman, Meg Ryan’s performance is, refreshingly, less precious than she’s been in a long while.
Read full review
Restoration moves from farce to spiritual parable to melodrama with such inconsistency that it could be a case study in 17th-century multiple personality disorder. [02 Feb 1996, p.05]
Sweeping yet intimate drama boasts an exemplary cast headed by Robert Downey Jr., who does bravura work as a wastrel physician. Pic’s main liability, an overly episodic story that loses some steam in the second half, might, however, limit its commercial domain to aficionados of artier historical fare.
Read full review
Downey seems subdued in the film's central role, as if he's out of his league when it comes to dramatically stretching as an actor. Even when all decked out in foppish finery, looking absolutely ridiculous to the objective eye, he can't find a way to focus your attention on him. Instead, in looking at him, all you can do is wonder: How much did those duds cost?
Read full review
More From Metacritic
Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
