Jackboots On Whitehall (2010)

3.0

COMEDY/ANIMATION

U.S. Release Date: TBA

Running Length: 94 Minutes

MPAA Classification: NR

Cast: Ewan McGregor, Alan Cumming, Tom Wilkinson, Timothy Spall, Rosamund Pike

Director: Edward McHenry, Rory McHenry

Screenplay: Edward McHenry, Rory McHenry

Music: Guy Michelmore

U.S. Distributor: TBA

Review by: Carter Moulton

06/18/10

The tone of Edward and Rory McHenry’s Jackboots On Whitehall can be summed up in one image. Before the opening credits of the film begin, we see a superimposed logo: “Panzervision.” This film mocks everything in sight. It’s distasteful, scatterbrained, and a few years too late, but Jackboots On Whitehall is just too entertaining to pass up.

The film’s plot is simple: Hitler takes over London, and Chris, the film’s protagonist, has to save the day with a ragtag group of soldiers, priests, friends—and Winston Churchill. This fictitious story set in World War II may prove too offensive for some—I would never watch this my Grandfather—but the fact that every nation receives the same treatment helps to soften the blow.

The McHenry’s play with stereotypes here, as most everyone is cast in an unintelligent light. Winston Churchill is a bumbling moron with a built-in cigar; Hitler dresses up in the Queen’s clothes; a Frenchman wears a knit turtleneck, smokes a cigar, and is never seen without at least two women by his side; the Nazi’s talk as if they have their mouths full of sausage; the Scottish are blood-sucking barbarians with face-paint; and finally, the American war hero, Billy Fiske, has little-to-no regard for his own safety and continually mislabels his surroundings. For instance, he refers to the Nazi party as “commies,” an Indian battalion of the English army as “engines,” and the Germans as “Russians.” At one point, Fiske says, “Don’t worry; I’m American.”

With the voice talent of Ewan McGregor, Alan Cumming, Rosamund Pike, Tom  Wilkinson, and Timothy Spall, Jackboots On Whitehall could find an audience in the States. It will receive an exhausting amount of comparison to another film: Team America: World Police. Jackboots On Whitehall does share some of the same qualities as the aforementioned film: satire, the topic of egocentric nationalism, and a modern form of animated storytelling; however, Jackboots is far less vulgar and features better visual production. Whereas Team America had an all-marionette cast, Jackboots On Whitehall is made up entirely of action figures.

The action figure’s mouths are impressive to watch as they appear to move with the help of computers, although I’m not entirely sure if this is the case. The costume design, character movement, and color palettes are equally impressive. The film’s colors are distinct, as if it was shot in Technicolor. Also, there are numerous creative manipulations to the action figure bodies that occur during the film’s battle sequences.

Not only does the film satirize historical stereotypes, but it also parodies popular film, including The Lord of the Rings, Braveheart, and Independence Day. This film would’ve been fresher had it been released around 2004, because its source material seems distant and unoriginal. We saw World War II parodied last year with Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, and most of the referenced films have been out for some time. That being said, a unique production and energy behind Jackboots is evident, and it’s hard to sit through this relatively short film without finding a laugh.