Scooter Chronicles

Sometime earlier this week (can’t remember the day, but I am playing catch-up again) Marcia and I watched “Bernard and the Genie”. It is a Christmas special from 1991 produced by BBC, starring Alan Cumming, Lenny Henry, and Rowan Atkinson.

Bernard Bottle (Cumming) is an art dealer, working for Charles Pinkworth (Atkinson). He has recently sold an elderly woman’s collection for 50 million pounds, a collection that she didn’t know it’s worth, and then promised her half of the money. Pinkworth first treats Bottle as the company savior, then promptly fires him after hearing the deal he made with the woman. Bernard then goes home and calls his fiancée, finds she is not home, so then calls his best friend. Bernard soon learns that the two are together, and that he is now jobless and womanless. His fiancée comes over and picks up “her things”, which turns out to be just about everything, except a desk, a chair, and an old lamp. To make himself feel better, Bernard polishes the lamp, and out jumps Josephus (Henry).

Of course it comes out that whatever Bernard wishes for, Josephus makes happen. And there is no limit. Normally this is where the hilarity would ensue, but there wasn’t a lot of hilarity. Then again it wasn’t bad either.

Cumming comes across about as strong as a wet noodle, which works well for the character, but it seemed like too much. It was interesting to see Henry play a role where he is happy and joyful. The only thing I have seen him in before is the BBC show “Chef!”, and he is a pompous, anal retentive, brooding arse (because it sounds more British). As for Atkinson, he goes back and forth from playing a complete jerk with sarcastic wit to inept idiot and points in-between so well. This time as Pinkworth he is heavy on the jerk side.

This was recommended to us by another BBC fan. And though we found enjoyment out of it, it didn’t live up to the hype.