Close to the halfway point of 2025, the Criterion Collection have been releasing some splendid titles. For May 2025, Criterion have gone back to one of their earlier releases with the 1987 cult classic Withnail & I. Directed by Bruce Robinson, the movie was first released by Criterion on DVD in 2001. Now almost 25 years later, the movie has received a new Blu Ray release. As with previous titles from Criterion, it has bonus features both new and old, all of which should give movie buffs a new appreciation for the movie.
The Movie
Withnail & I takes place in 1969 in Camden Town in London. The two protagonists, Marwood and Withnail (Paul McGann and Richard E Grant), are two unemployed actors at are living together in a unkempt flat. Looking for a change of scenery, the two decide to take a trip for the weekend in a country cottage belonging to Withnail’s Uncle Monty (Richard Griffiths). While in the cottage, the two learn more about each other and the lives of others.
Left to right: Marwood (played by Paul McGann) and Withnail (played by Richard E Grant)
Withnail & I tackles a few themes throughout its 107 minute runtime. While usually considered a comedy, its a dark comedy and wonderfully so. The movie is semi-autobiographical on Bruce Robinson’s part during a time when he was struggling to find work as an actor. Basing the movie off of his own life, Robinson crafted a bleak yet humorous comedy about living as an actor at the end of the decade. Both McGann and Grant are great as Marwood and Withnail. Marwood is a neurotic personality type that serves as the straight man while Withnail is wonderfully flamboyant and over the time. Between the two, Grant gives the best performance in the movie. Believe it or not, this was Grant’s first ever role in any movie or TV show. As Withnail, he’s unhinged and unpredictable.
In terms of its bleakness, it’s played off as comedic although some might see the depressing nature of Marwood and Withnail’s situation: they’re in a dirty flat, they’re both dependent on drugs and/or alcohol and they’re low on money. When thinking a trip to the country side will help them leave the mundaneness of everyday life, it turns out to be worse than either of them can imagine: bad weather, rudimentary living conditions and the addition of the flaming Uncle Monty don’t make things any better. While this is all unpleasant for the characters, this only makes it more hilarious for the viewer. It’s similar to that of This Is Spinal Tap: while the band are going through absolute hell, the audience is laughing at the band’s misery.
Another topic touched upon in Withnail & I is that of gay panic. Uncle Monty, Withnail’s uncle, is portrayed as a charming yet unsettlingly homosexual man. Marwood finds himself in uncomfortable situations with Monty during the movie, some of which younger generations might not take well to. If anything, it’s played off as comedic and no harm is meant. During that time of the late 1960s, homosexuality was frowned upon in the UK. This gives some context to why the characters around Monty feel uneasy when around him.
If the movie had any downsides, it would be the first half hour of the movie: it’s fairly slow and uninteresting. Though this can also be seen as a positive in that this is why Marwood and Withnail decide to go to the cottage: it’s to get away from the mundaneness of everyday life. The movie’s story arcs might not also be to everyone’s liking and some questions are left unanswered. Despite these weaknesses, Withnail & I makes for a strong movie.
Bonus Features
Uncle Monty (Richard Griffiths) enjoying a day in the cottage with Marwood and Withnail.
The Withnail & I blu ray comes with a number of bonus features:
– a new 15-17 minute featurette about the movie, with new interviews with Robinson and Grant
– Withnail and Us, a 1999 documentary on the making of the movie and its impact
– British Film Institute Q& A with Robinson and Grant from 2017
– a stills gallery of pictures from Ralph Steadman
– two audio commentaries: one from 2020 with Robinson, the other from 2001 with McGann and actor Ralph Brown (Danny, the drug dealer).
– theatrical trailer
Most of these bonus features are new, with the exception of the ones that are from the time the 2001 DVD came out from Criterion. There is also a booklet, which folds out and has an essay from film critic David Cairns.
Conclusion
The new Blu-ray release of Withnail & I is another solid release from Criterion. The new transfer of the movie looks great and the addition of the bonus features (both new and old) makes this a release worth diving into.
Movie Rating: 7/10
Release Rating: 7/10
I'm a writer/journalist with a passion for music and pop culture. Having graduated from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, PA in 2014, I've been looking for a platform in which I can share my passions. Since 2009, I've been posting to my own blog- The Walrus' Music Blog- via Blogger. I'm also the author of two self-published books, "The Camp: Stories from the Summer" and "The College: Stories from King's." Together, the two books cover the story of my life from 2004 to 2014. I've been lucky enough to interview several of my favorite musicians over the years and go to concerts from time to time. I'm also very devoted to the CBS reality TV show Survivor, which I started watching in 2002 when its fourth season started. I currently live in New Jersey.