The Crimson Permanent Assurance

CinemaSerf 3/31/2024 2:19:42PM 8.4

With an opening straight out of "Ben Hur", the old codgers at the assurance company rebel when one of their number is fired. They consign their new, yuppie, management to the vault - or make them walk the plank. Then cannibalising just about everything from the ceiling fan to the coat hook detach their building from it's m foundations and set off on the voyage of a lifetime. Shiver me timbers, but they're off a-pirating in their eponymous ten-storey vessel. Determined to make waves amidst Mrs Thatcher's newly formed economic policy, they head straight for the gleaming merchant banking centre. Weapons loaded, eye-patches firmly attached (didn't see any parrots) they launch their assault. Perilous thing being a window cleaner! Who will win out? Well it's got a rousing, maritime-style score and loads of swash and buckle as the filing cabinets double for cannon and just about every bit of office furniture becomes a lethal weapon. It's quite good fun with the typical surrealism you'd expect from Gilliam and there's even a message-reinforcing ditty to ram the message home. Possibly a bit long, but enjoyable to watch - right to the end!