When you are a fan of a performer as a part of a group, you always know there is going to come a time when they want to branch out and see what they can accomplish on their own. Whether or not they flourish is really a roll of the dice, but you nonetheless hope for the best. Monty Python are perhaps the most iconic comedy group with a catalog of material that includes so many classics that it makes your head spin. The path of each performer since then has been a rollercoaster of quality, but each one of them has a special quality that keeps you wanting to see what they are up to. Eric Idle has always been one of my personal favorites even though his post-Python output has been all over the place. His lone sole feature writing credit came about with the 1993 comedy Splitting Heirs which he also starred in for director Robert Young (Fierce Creatures). You would be forgiven if you do not recall this film, as it performed poorly at the box office and with critics. Yet, for fans of the performer, it serves as something of a curiosity that you want to seek out to see his authorial voice.
The film begins rather cheekily in the manner you might expect from a Python with a quick overview of the unfortunate lineage of the Dukes of Bournemouth – lots of accidents that have cut many lifespans short leaving many to believe the family is cursed. We get caught up to the 1960s where the current Duke and his unique American wife have a child, Thomas Henry Butterfly Rainbow Peace, but absentmindedly leave him in a restaurant as an infant where he disappears before they realize what happened a few hours later. Flash forward to the 1990s and we meet Tommy Patel (Eric Idle), a man who has grown up in an Indian family and never once questioned why he looks nothing like the rest of them. At his job at a stockbroking firm, he gets tasked with hosting the bombastic American representative of the firm, Henry Bullock (Rick Moranis, Spaceballs), who is the son of the Duke who turned up as the missing baby as an infant. When the current Duke dies, Henry begins his ascension to the position himself.
As you may have deduced, Tommy was the actual baby left at the restaurant all of those years ago, and when he comes to this realization he begins a convoluted journey towards claiming what should be rightfully his. The gigantic estate, the money and power, and even the beautiful, money-hungry Kitty (Catherine Zeta-Jones, The Haunting). Also, possibly a relationship with his mother (Barbara Hershey, Beaches), if she would just stop trying to sleep with him! Of course, things become outlandish when fellow Python John Cleese (A Fish Called Wanda) turns up as an adoption lawyer who hints that it might be easier to kill off Henry rather than trying to prove he is not the rightful heir. The plot is silly, but there is something slightly off that could have made this movie dramatically better. Eric Idle and Rick Moranis really should have switched roles, as Idle seems a much better choice for an oblivious Duke who is nearly taken out by the nebbish Rick Moranis time after time. The dynamic just never feels right how it is presented here.
As for the rest of the film, the most that can be said is that all of the comedy is very obvious. Barbara Hershey’s character is set up in the beginning to be a lustful American who is frustrated that English men do not seem interested in sex. This plays out again and again by finding her in compromising positions with members of the house staff. Catherine Zeta Jones is utilized even less, not really evolving beyond a sexy woman who wants the finer things in life. She is barely given any comedic beats in the film. There are some funny moments because Idle and Moranis have natural charisma on screen, but the writing never goes anywhere unexpected during its mercifully short runtime. The suggested casting switch could have boosted the movie some, but the writing was always going to be more on the lacking side. You might not regret spending an hour-and-a-half checking this out if you enjoy the talent involved, but most will be better off skipping this effort.
Video Quality
Splitting Heirs gets somewhat of an upgrade to Blu-Ray courtesy of Mill Creek Entertainment, but it is far from a flawless presentation. The transfer is sourced from an older master provided by Universal Pictures for its Blu-Ray debut. Compared to other releases this year from the company, this release does not suffer quite as much in terms of compression artifacts and macroblocking. They are definitely still present, just not quite as egregious as other discs. Skin tones fall a bit more on the side of pasty and unnatural, and the presentation offers up some fairly unimpressive black levels. The disc experiences a decent amount of black crush, but once again it is not as overwhelming as some Mill Creek discs. Thankfully the image retains some texture in small aspects of the photography such as costumes and interior settings. The colors are one of the standout aspects of the disc, as particular elements of the production design pop off the screen with a nice vibrancy. Mill Creek Entertainment has provided a Blu-Ray disc that is a fine step up from DVD, but it does not quite hit it out of the park like a new master may have. Given the inconsistent quality of the feature, this might be good enough for most people.
Audio Quality
This new Blu-Ray comes with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that captures the intention of the film really well. The dialogue holds up wonderfully, coming through clearly without being stepped on by the music or sound effects. The environmental effects are delineated nicely from the din of crowded rooms to specific nature sounds. The track avoids any instances of age related wear and tear or distortion. This is a film that utilizes music really well, and it is presented with great clarity. The songs maintain a pleasing fidelity as they fill up the room. This is a track that represents the film in a loving manner. Optional English subtitles are provided on this disc.
Special Features
The most notable aspect of this release is the “VHS-Style” slipcover that ships with the packaging sporting some superior cover art.
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Splitting Heirs might pique your curiosity due to the really strong ensemble tied to it, but the script never gives them something substantial to dig into. There are some laughs to be had, but most of the comedy is very basic in its execution. Mill Creek Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray featuring a serviceable A/V presentation and next to nothing in the way of special features. This should mostly be left as something for completists for any of the talent involved.
Splitting Heirs is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Mill Creek Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
