A British drama; A story about a conniving 19th-century military officer who is forced to impersonate a European noble as part of a plot to seize control of the country. Setting aside the success of the Flashman novels, which feature a cowardly scoundrel and womanizer Capt. Harry Flashman, this film adaptation of the second novel set in the early days of the Victorian period is a mixed bag. Mixing skittish buffonery and lightheartedness with seriousness and scenes of violence, tonally this film is awkward and uneven. With an array of gallant heroes, dastardly villains, pure maidens and lusty wenches introduced, the story loses purpose and pattern. McDowell loses the focus of his character, revelling in the outrage and menace yet coming up short on the more charming and sustaining aspects: tall, handsome, impeccable, caddish and projecting the charm and ego of a character we are supposed to identify with; so the story loses purpose too. There are brief moments of amusement and silliness throughout.
Review of Royal Flash
