Bland, British and boring — three words that should never have to go together but too often do, at least when describing a certain cinematic formula engineered a while back by the evil geniuses at Miramax. Miramax no longer exists as such, of course, and Mrs. Henderson Presents isn't even a Miramax film in the first place, but it may as well be.
The movie — which is one of the first productions from ex-Miramax honchos Harvey and Bob Weinstein's new company — is meant to be taken as "classy," but the script reeks of shallowness and clichés.
Dame Judi Dench stars as a wealthy widow who buys an old theater and eventually begins putting on all-nude reviews, which she defends as being good for national morale. Bob Hoskins is the theater manager who develops feelings for Dench's character, and much is made of the aimless, incessant bickering of the film's two leads (who we're assured are actually deeply in love) and the naughtiness of female flesh being paraded across the screen. Also stars Will Young and Christopher Guest.
Mrs. Henderson Presents (R) opens Feb. 3 at local theaters. 2 stars
This article appears in Feb 1-7, 2006.
