The Last of Robin Hood

**Spoiler Alert**

Director: Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland/Starring: Kevin Kline, Dakota Fanning and Susan Sarandon

The Last of Robin Hood tells the true story of screen legend Errol Flynn's relationship with the underage Beverly Aadland (Dakota Fanning); an elicit affair abetted in part by Aadland's mother Florence (Susan Sarandon).

Kevin Kline is splendidly cast as the aging Errol Flynn whose best Hollywood years are behind him; a truth he sadly acknowledges in the film. Kline bears an uncanny resemblance to Flynn with his roguish mustache, which makes him physically ideal for the role.

Beverly is a young actress/dancer with show biz ambitions and when the film begins, she is seen walking on a movie lot to attend a rehearsal for a dance routine. Unbeknownst to Beverly, she is being watched by none other than Flynn himself from an office window across the street. Enchanted and fascinated by the young beauty, he follows her, then seeks her out inside the studio. Flynn introduces himself to Beverly, who is naturally taken with the star.

In a classic movie industry seduction, Flynn offers to become her mentor, which the young woman eagerly accepts. He asks her to audition a short time thereafter, which thrills her mother, who is besotted with fame and stardom.

On the car ride home from said audition, Flynn seizes an opportunity to kiss Beverly. Rather than responding with disgust, Beverly reciprocates.

While Florence shows only a trace of suspicion when her daughter arrives home late, Beverly's father Herb (Patrick St. Esprit) remains wary of Flynn. When Herb learns Flynn has invited both women to New York, he first threatens to leave the family then acts on said threat shortly after. After the women spend some time with Flynn in New York, he comes clean about his love for Beverly, which at first incurs Florence's ire but her intoxication with fame and the film star's Hollywood stature stays her moral indignation.

As Flynn's career further declines, so does his health. And what Beverly and her mother had hoped would be a career boost becomes a series of very unprestigious movie roles. Her modest acting ability does nothing to help. Flynn directs her in a pro-Cuban revolution B-film set on location and tries to sell Stanley Kubrick on the idea of a Flynn/Aadland pairing for his film Lolita. Though Kubrick seems intrigued with the idea of casting Flynn (Flynn as Humbert Humbert--that would have been something!), he finds Beverly's screen-test less than impressive.

While her daughter's romance with Flynn rages, Florence drinks heavily and tells anyone who will listen about her friendship with Errol Flynn.

It's too bad the cast had such a serviceable script. Kline is terrific but apart from his amoral behaviour, he could be any playboy flaunting his taste for young girls. Dakota Fanning's role is the least tended to. Aside from a few moments that suggest Beverly has smarts and some wit, she is mostly a blank. Only Sarandon's character has any dimension, which she fleshes out with a skilled performance. Much of the dialogue and scenes lay flat which makes the movie seem more like a made-for-cable-T.V. production rather than something cinematic.

The film is tastefully chaste but it also never dips its toes into anything dark. Flynn confesses to being an SOB but it would have helped to demonstrate it more. Yes, it is enough that he was in a relationship with an underage girl--Beverly was 15 when they became a thing--but he seems too charming to be anything more than a drunken cad.

The film left an aftertaste like that of flat soda. It had some flavor but all the fizz and pop was sadly lacking. It also suffered from an unimaginative title.

Sometimes the worst response to a film is to have no response. Apathy is in many ways worse than contempt. This isn't a film that one will hate, merely one that might elicit a yawn and a stretch. I wish I could say more but what's the point?