Educating Rita (1983)
This modern day take on the famous Pygmalion story, in which a knowledgeable gentleman tries to mold a less fortunate, ignorant girl into his idea of a proper lady, stars Michael Caine and Julie Walters. It’s rather a hit-and-miss; you’ll either love it and find it charming, or wish you’d just watched My Fair Lady again instead.
While Michael Caine is always pretty likable, his character is written to be a washed-up alcoholic with little to root for. Julie Walters, for the most part, is more obnoxious than endearing, and her “common sense charm” added to the one-dimensional characters and script created by Willy Russell. This is not a deep movie; it doesn’t inspire conversation after the credits roll. It’s something to chuckle at, if you find it funny, during the two hours of escapism. I would have preferred a remake of My Fair Lady, with Michael Caine playing Alfred P. Doolittle, a part I believe must have been written for him.
More Michael Caine movies here!
While Michael Caine is always pretty likable, his character is written to be a washed-up alcoholic with little to root for. Julie Walters, for the most part, is more obnoxious than endearing, and her “common sense charm” added to the one-dimensional characters and script created by Willy Russell. This is not a deep movie; it doesn’t inspire conversation after the credits roll. It’s something to chuckle at, if you find it funny, during the two hours of escapism. I would have preferred a remake of My Fair Lady, with Michael Caine playing Alfred P. Doolittle, a part I believe must have been written for him.
More Michael Caine movies here!