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Sadly Over-hyped

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Pleasant and funny, if not uproarious, comedy is an ideal vehicle for the legendary John Cleese. He plays Brian Stimpson, the strict, demanding headmaster of a private school. His big character detail is that he lives life by the clock. Everything must be done when it is scheduled to be done. Therefore, it becomes an unending headache for him when everything goes wrong while he is on his way to speak at a headmasters' conference. Before the day is over, he'll have the cops after him, he'll enjoy some R & R at a monastery, he'll hitch a ride with Laura Wisely (Sharon Maiden), one of his students, and he'll hook up with an old acquaintance, Pat (Penelope Wilton).This enjoyable little effort seems somewhat forgotten when one looks at Cleeses' career. Therefore it could use some more exposure. Seeing that it takes place over the course of one day, it's paced pretty well, and everybody in the cast gets into the spirit of the thing. Young Maiden is appealing as Laura, and the top notch British cast also includes Stephen Moore, Alison Steadman, Joan Hickson, Pat Keen, Sheila Keith, Tony Haygarth, and Geoffrey Palmer. Cleese is perfect as the anal retentive, somewhat uptight person who gradually loosens up, a la Steve Martin in "Planes, Trains & Automobiles". And just like that other film, there is a certain lunacy in what can only be described as a comic nightmare. Things just keep getting worse for Stimpson, and you can't help but feel bad for him while also chuckling at these misadventures.The ending is not all that satisfying, but getting there is still fun.Seven out of 10.

A typical one joke scene movie where the audience (whether they be British or American) will find empty laughs. Unlike A fish Called Wanda, a true classic with real characters, Clockwise has empty people who are never developed throughout the story. Like a rolling stone, the story drags more and more characters towards the film's conclusion. However, there is no climax as none of the characters evolve or have any resolution. The plot falls short with no moral or closure. With that said, if this was just a roller coaster ride for just laughs, where were the jokes? Clockwise has moments of a story and comedy, but it is not a comical story. The bulk of the movie falls on the shoulders of John Cleese, who does a good job, but has nothing to work with. If the movie was shot in only a few days with a limited budget, then I would say this was a fine attempt of a British comedy. However, when it is compared to anything decent in the last 20 years, you can in no way consider this a masterpiece, a classic, or even a good comedy.

A road movie in which the bloated pomposity of an English headteacher is systematically punctured by a series of unforeseen events. It's essentially a one-trick concept film for the talents of Cleese: it might even be said that it's Fawlty Towers, The Movie, complete as it is with ill-matched wife and with the same car as driven by Basil Fawlty. It's a well-weighted film and it's little surprise to find that the script is by Michael Frayn (whose most famous film adaptation to date is the farce Noises Off with Michael Caine). It's a great film for 'where are they now' (or perhaps 'what they were there, then!?') spotting. Naturally though the film is Cleese's property and although the shtick is familiar he does seem to put it on the big screen unselfconsciousnessly. 5/10

Headmaster Brian Stimpson has built his reputation on being organised and running his school on a tight schedule organised right down to the minute. Such is the success of this approach that he has been elected the chairman of the Headmaster's Association and is due to give a speech to the association in Norwich. A simple mix up over right and left sees him miss his train and also miss a lift from his wife. A chance encounter with one of his sixth form in a car sees him able to beg a lift from her but that only causes more panic and confusion with his wife and the girl's parents assuming that he is in a relationship with her. Meanwhile on the road how eventful can a simple drive of less than 200 miles be?With John Cleese playing the sort of character he is well known for you pretty much know what you're going to get here in this precursor to Planes, Trains & Automobiles. The narrative arch sees us establishing the strictly organised Stimpson before then spending the rest of the film gradually putting him through increasingly comic blunders and delays as he tries to get to his destination on time. It is nothing that special or clever and the events are never that unexpected or imaginative. Personally I rarely laughed out loud but was reasonably amused by it throughout. Morahan's direction is pretty by-the-numbers and his touch is too obvious to be of much help.Cleese is the whole show and it is down to his playing that the film is worth even looking at. Sure his performance is not a million miles from characters he has played before but he is still good. His timing and awareness of his own absurdity helps the material. The rest fall in behind him but mostly the film is all about him and he is rarely offscreen. Overall then an average comedy that is more or less what you expect but should do enough to amuse if not have you roaring with laughter. Cleese makes it worth the while so, if you like him you'll be OK but if not this isn't worth bothering with.