Detailed movie reviews Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans
The improbable friendship between resourceful Roman Atti (Croft) and spirited Celt Orla (Jones) forms the movie’s focus, and while those interactions fizzle rather than spark, Orla fares much better as a character in her own right. Inspired by rebellion leader Boudicca (Kate Nash) to become a warrior, Jones imbues her with a self-assurance that remains likeable even in Orla’s more naive moments.
Still, for all of its period trappings, Horrible Histories never escapes the sense of feeling more like a feature-length TV special than a movie. This is reflected in the song and dance numbers – an element the franchise has become renowned for – which, for all the impressive verve the cast musters, fail to linger in the memory.
In addition to Jones’ Orla, there are some bright spots throughout. Sherlock’s Rupert Graves is a hoot in limited screen time as General Paulinus, and Craig Roberts’ performance as the bratty and impulsive Emperor Nero is a consistent highlight. Whether he’s planning battle strategies or quarrelling with his power-hungry Mother Agrippina (Kim Cattrall), it’s fun to watch him having a blast with the role. It’s just a shame that more of the humour isn’t of a similar quality, the screenplay instead opting for a cheap, gross, and crucially not very funny gag all too often.
