28.9.23
A chocolate box highlight reel of Wes Anderson’s most famed works, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is a brisk 40-minute tale told in his signature style. Though compact, its imaginative premise satisfies as a bitesize adventure, although I do admit to daydreaming during the film that it would be better as a West End show split into two parts. Nonetheless, Anderson gathers an all-British leading cast of stars he hasn’t worked with before (with one surprise cameo), but their energy and comedy timing fit so well you would have thought they’d been working with Wes for decades.
Benedict Cumberbatch is loveably pompous as the eccentric title character, while Ben Kingsley brings physical comedy as the mysterious mentor figure Imdan Khan. Though the story itself is featherweight, Anderson’s visual invention shines through in the elaborate library and vibrant jungle sets. However, without obvious depth or impact, Henry Sugar feels like a trifling effort compared to the likes of The Grand Budapest Hotel and Moonrise Kingdom. Despite that, it still offers a dose of Anderson’s trademark whimsy which may have utility on Netflix; serving as a gateway for newcomers to discover his aesthetically pleasing storytelling.