First Knight (1995)

I thought that First Knight was going to be a fun film. I knew it starred Sean Connery, who didn't turn up until 30 mins in, but I didn't realise Richard Gere was in it too (or Rob Brydon, who was an uncredited extra in the Wales-filmed first 10 mins!). The movie has Connery's King Arthur marrying Julia Ormond's young Guinevere, while Gere's sometimes American, sometimes sort-of English Lancelot falls for her, and she for him. There's also a bad guy with a funny name who's trying to take over Guinevere's old kingdom, but who's easily foiled by Lancelot everytime he tries to do something like kidnap Arthur's new bride. 

Unlike the BBC TV series, Merlin, there is no magical wizard here, and also a distinct lack of fun. It's all a bit plodding and obvious, and the action scenes of swordfights and horse-mounted battle are pretty pedestrian affairs. How odd that Jerry Zucker, the director, was one of the men responsible for Airplane! because there's barely a wry grin nevermind a laugh to be found. The knights of the round table are little more than faceless extras. Gere's Lancelot looks like he's in a shampoo advert half the time, and I kept confusing Ormond's insipid Guinevere with Maid Marian. The baddie, whose name I can't remember, was a great villain when he appeared and whoever portrayed him brought some sorely missed relish to his performance. I've never rated Gere or Connery as great actors, Gere often just looks smug, as he does here. Connery has the right gravitas as an older statesman King Arthur here. It's just a shame he doesn't get much screentime compared to Gere. It's not an awful film, just a boring one.