John Malkovich is the butler, and it looks like nobody’s been murdered? What a twist!
How to watch Mr. Blake at Your Service! in New Zealand
Mr. Blake at Your Service! is in New Zealand cinemas from July 25.
What is Mr. Blake at Your Service! about?
Directed by Gilles Legardinier, who adapted his own best-selling 2012 novel, the French-language Mr. Blake at Your Service! sees Malko as the titular character, a depressed English businessman who heads to a rural French manor house where he met his recently deceased wife in order to mull over old memories and generally mope about the place. However, upon arrival he’s mistaken for the new butler, and decides to stick around in any case.
Can his presence reinvigorate the eccentric lady of the manor, Nathalie? And the other staff members? Probably. Also, there is a cat named Mephisto.
The cast of Mr. Blake at Your Service!
John Malkovich is Andrew Blake; French screen legend Fanny Ardant is Nathalie; Émilie Dequenne is Odile, the cook; Philippe Bas is Philippe Magnier, the groundskeeper; with Eugénie Anselin, Al Ginter, Anne Brionne, and Christel Henon rounding out the ensemble.
Mr. Blake at Your Service! trailer
Why we’re excited about Mr. Blake at Your Service!
Mr. Blake at Your Service! looks as warm and inviting as a freshly-drawn bath and a glass of Bordeaux. The critical response has been positive but not effusive, with the general consensus being that is the sort of warm, bittersweet, life-affirming comedy-drama that the French seem to knock out on a weekly basis, buoyed by a game turn from Malkovich (who, of course, speaks fluent French) and palpable chemistry between him and Ardant.
It’s a gentle, languid story of second chances, set in the beautiful Breton countryside, with a great cast. All else aside, it should do well with the matinee brigade.
