BRING ME THE HEAD OF MAVIS DAVIS

It's a shame to say, but the music profession is a very fickle industry. One day a star is the savior for the next generation, and the next minute, this said same star is a pariah for all things evil. Well, such is life I suppose, one depicted in this film Directed by John Henderson; and Starring: Rik Mayall, Jane Horrocks, and Danny Aiello. It was made in 1998, and lasts for 100 minutes.


Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis


THE STORY

OK, I know that it is a sad thing to say, but record producer, Marty Starr (Rik Mayall), is having a really crappy time of it at the moment.

For a start, he hears the terrible news that the recording artist whom he nurtured since her infancy, Mavis Davis (Jane Horrocks), is going to leave him and join another record label after her current tour. And on top of that, he is forced by ganger, Mr. Rathbone (Danny Aiello), to help his son, Paul (Paul Keating), in his strained and lacklustre musical career. 

What a drag!

Though, as luck would have it, both of these endeavors give Marty a startling idea – as idea in which he sends word out via Mr. Rathbone’s henchmen, that he wants to place a hit on Mavis Davis head, just so that he can reap the financial rewards before she leaves his employee.

Eureka!

However, just before the hit man gets in touch with Marty, he has an argument with Mavis – one that leads him to break into her apartment, and then, by accident, kill a friend of hers whilst he is making his escape. Worst still, is that once Marty thinks that he is in the safety of his own office, his ex-wife attacks him – and this chance encounter inadvertently leads him to drop a piece of vital evidence in her possession.

Ooops!

So what does Marty do now then, huh? Because does the hit man come to his aide before matters turn out more dire for him? Well, the hit man does introduce himself, but he is not that very good – which is made even more evident when he tries to kill Mavis on two separate occasions. Moreover, during this time, the police hound Marty, Mr. Rathbone places additional pressure onto his frail shoulders, and he continually reminises about a time when things where more in his favour also.

Poor git.

Now is it possible for Marty dig himself out of this situation? Maybe by drugging Mavis, just prior to her performing on stage? Err – no – not saying – because it is too difficult to explain. But what I will say, is that what next transpires happens on the night of Mavis’s last performance – because diva’s sing – Marty wants to hide – hit men sting – and careers eventually collide.

Shazam!

THE REVIEW:

‘Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis’ is one of those films that scream into my soul “You know that you love me you git, you’re an anarchist with a passion for all things subversive”. And, to a certain degree, I can understand where this scream is coming from. I love English humour – I love how movies are a good way of poking fun at the underbelly of the entertainment industry – and I even love the satire of perversion and mockery, and how sometimes you can say more with a laugh, than you can with a piece of well thought out rhetoric.

However, what I do not love, is a film that is not well structured, and does – at times – lose its core essence within a dual action story-line.

Ooops!

You see, what I find difficult to swallow about ‘Mavis Davis’, is that on the one hand, this is a film about how a record producer wants to kill an artist who is about to leave him. Whilst on the other hand, it is a film about how a gangster is forcing the same record producer to make his son a star. Moreover, it is about how this record producer both loves and hates his creation. Plus, it is a also a broad satire on the music industry, and a farcical, silly, profane, and down right longwinded story to boot.

Too much, right?

Though, that is my only gripe with this film really – it tries to do too much. As for the rest of it, well, it is very good.

Personally speaking, I think that both Rik Mayall and Jane Horrocks are two outstanding comedic actors, who are able to ‘project’ whatever they have inside them too the nth degree. When Rik feels sad, you feel sad for him. When Jane sings, you want to tap your feet and get down and dirty. Also, the subsidiary actors in this film were great too – with all of them stamping there ground and making there parts very memorable indeed – especially Ricky Grover, Danny Aiello, and Marc Warren.

Overall, ‘Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis’ is a British film with a very British way about it. It reminds me of a mixture of ‘Home Alone’, ‘Still Crazy’, and ‘Carry on Camping’ – just without Sidney James laugh. Also, I have to say that it is a very memorable movie as well – as the part in which Rik’s character tries to score some drug from the roadies, then the ‘rent boy’, and finally his cell mate, is just a blast, and shows how ‘skit material’ can be translated onto the big screen in a very brash and bold manner. 

Nice film – flawed in places – great in others.

THE RATING: B+