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The “pitiful” 2001 comedy Roger Ebert couldn’t stand: “This movie is hopeless”
Roger Ebert dismissed the 2001 comedy war film *All the Queen’s Men*, arguing that its promising premise failed to work on screen. He called the result “pitiful” and “hopeless”, faulting the film as a whole rather than simply objecting to its genre or subject.
Directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky and starring Matt LeBlanc and Suzy Eddie Izzard, the film follows men who disguise themselves as women to infiltrate an Enigma machine factory in wartime Berlin. Though reportedly based on a true story, its plot and treatment of gender drew criticism; Ebert said different casting and a black-and-white style might have helped, but he could not imagine the film working as made.
In short
- Ebert found the comedy’s execution hopeless.
- The film follows a wartime attempt to infiltrate an Enigma factory.
- Its promising premise was undermined by its cast and overall execution.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A daring wartime farce can use disguise and absurdity to explore the ingenuity, fear and improvisation of people caught in conflict. With a strong premise and committed performances, the film might have balanced comedy with the stakes of its historical setting, while an unconventional approach to gender could have served the story rather than simply supplied a gag.
The case against
A story about wartime infiltration needs convincing characters and a tone that makes its comedy feel earned; if the execution undermines the premise, ambition alone cannot make it work. The use of men posing as women may also feel shallow or distracting if it treats gender chiefly as a disguise device, and stylistic changes or different casting would not necessarily repair those deeper problems.
Explained simply
Roger Ebert was one of the most influential film critics in America, whose reviews shaped how audiences perceived films. His judgements carried significant authority because of his extensive knowledge and wide readership.
All the Queen's Men is a 2001 war comedy starring Matt LeBlanc that follows soldiers who disguise themselves as women to infiltrate a German factory producing Enigma code-breaking machines during the Second World War. The film was based on reportedly true events and directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky.
What made Ebert's response notable was that he rejected the film's entire execution rather than simply objecting to its genre or subject matter. He called it "pitiful" and "hopeless", suggesting that its fundamental problems could not be overcome by casting changes or different visual techniques.