The Favourite (2018) * *

Directed by:  Yorgos Lanthimos

Starring:  Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult, Joe Alwyn

The trailers for The Favourite promise a scheming, ill-mannered romp.    The promise is left unfulfilled.    I don't know where The Favourite went wrong, or if it even had a chance to go right.   It was off from the start, taking its leisurely time to get going, as if the outcome were ever in doubt.   We know the lowly Abigail (Stone) will scheme her way into the inner circle of the sickly, pathetic Queen Anne (Colman) while usurping Lady Sarah (Weisz), the Queen's trusted advisor and lover.   Abigail was born of means, but after her father lost the family fortune to gambling debts, Abigail was sold into prostitution.    She wants to fight her way back to respectability, even if she has to seduce Queen Anne and banish her cousin Sarah to do it. 

Queen Anne spends the bulk of her day being pushed around in a wheelchair and being treated for various maladies.    She has gout, mental illness, a sensitive stomach, and keeps seventeen rabbits as pets, each representing her seventeen unsuccessful attempts at childbirth.    Lady Sarah forcefully pushes her agenda, especially the strategy on dealing with never-ending war against the French, onto Queen Anne, who hopelessly goes along even though the financial strain may ultimately lead to unrest on the home front.

The setup takes too long and once the pieces are in place, the execution isn't worthy of the lengthy buildup.    Queen Anne is a sad case, but is easily manipulated and finds favor with anyone willing to rub her legs which are ravaged with a bizarre skin disease.    Both Sarah and Abigail fight over the Queen's time, affection, and attention, including rubbing the legs.    Sarah wants to rid the palace of Abigail, but Queen Anne will have none of it.    The Favourite becomes a tiresome game of Sarah and Abigail one-upping each other.    All of it without much sizzle.    I expected more, especially with actors like Stone and Weisz, both Oscar winners.   Olivia Colman was unfamiliar to me prior to The Favourite, but she lends some sympathy to the role.    She only wants to be loved, because the crown lies heavily on her head and heart.   The performances aren't at fault here.

The Favourite captures the early 1700's successfully.   The palace is more like an above-average library, with Queen Anne's bed in the center of it.    The kitchen is dilapidated.   Maids who screw up on the job are flogged.    It is not a comforting world, but Abigail and Sarah know they would rather at least be inside and not outside.   The camera, which continues to love Stone, moves relentlessly, and in some cases seems to swoop down on the action.    The score is simple and effective.    I can't fault the production values of The Favourite, but I can fault having everyone dress up in period costumes and delivering a dud.    The movie takes too long to tell a simple story.   Its characters are mean enough, to be sure, but just not compelling enough.