Any film that boasts the fact that the sets are made from cardboard surely must be sought after. So it is that we come across CAPTAIN EAGER AND THE MARK OF VOTH. Old school Sci- Fi is fondly remembered by director Simon DaVison in a film that harks back “to a more gentle age where aliens are green and no one is completely done in”.
This is Science Fiction Blue Peter style. Rockets have never more obviously been assisted by string nor has planet terrain ever so blatantly been made out of paper. Of course, this is the exact point of Captain Eager. It is all utter nonsense, but fun utter nonsense.
This can be attributed in part to the impressive cast that includes Tamsin Greig and Mark Heap, who display their unique knack for the ridiculous. James Vaughan is the real star of the show though as the totally beleaguered and out of date Captain Eager. Terrific in one particular scene involving Eager’s dead wife, Vaughan adds a real pathos to the clichéd dead family plotline. It really is moving.
Ah yes, the plot. Called upon by galactic super corporation MacroSpace, Eager is assigned the mission of investigating Colonel Regamun, suspected of causing mischief in the Veritan Sector. Of course he is, ensuring a tale of betrayal, redemption and a whole lot of confusion for both the characters and the audience.
It is here that the film suffers from its only real misfires. Yes, the plot is supposed to be irrelevant and ultimately befuddling but at times it does seem like hard work and does go on for a good 20 minutes too long. Small gripes though, considering the effort that has gone into getting this to the screen.
A loving pastiche of 1950’s Sci-Fi, CAPTAIN EAGER AND THE MARK OF VOTH is both as absurd and intriguing as the title suggests with laughs never far away from the next cardboard corner. A very British Sci-Fi film.
CAPTAIN EAGER AND THE MARK OF VOTH screens at the ICA from April 18. For full details of show times click here
Review by Mat Aitken
We have a pair of tickets to a very special screening of the film on April 20, courtesy of the ICA. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Simon DaVison and two of the stars, Tamsin Grieg and Mark Heap.
Click the link below to enter the competition. Entries close Thursday April 16 2008.