Withnail and I Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Withnail and I Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 21, 2025

Bruce Robinson's "Withnail and I" (1987) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new program with Bruce Robinson and Richard E. Grant; two audio commentaries; archival documentary; archival stills; vintage trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Have car, will travel.

Ever since I first saw Bruce Robinson's Withnail and I back in the late '80s, I have been trying to determine whether Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann were only acting in front of Bruce Robinson’s camera. Part of me has always believed that they were incredibly talented individuals who, for a short period of time, traded their personalities for those of their characters. They did it brilliantly and became these characters, exactly as Robinson wanted. However, there is another part of me that has remained incredibly suspicious of their transformations. Those of you who have already seen Withnail and I probably have a pretty good idea why.

Camden, the '60s. Withnail (Grant, Penelope) and Marwood (McGann, Gypo) are best friends and unemployed actors. They have an agent, somewhere, but he does not seem to care much about them. Perpetually frustrated, the two spend their days drinking as much as they can. Occasionally, if not too cash-strapped, they also light up a blunt.

To support their drinking habit, Withnail and Marwood rely on Uncle Monty (Richard Griffiths, The History Boys), an elderly man who happens to like younger men. Uncle Monty does not mind lending them money that they never repay, and when in a great mood, he even offers them a bottle of expensive French wine.

While trying to survive on a lousy budget and waiting for Lady Luck to permanently redirect their lives, Withnail and Marwood move into Uncle Monty’s countryside cottage. However, it is not too long before they discover that provincial folks are not as warm and hospitable as most books and films suggest, and that Uncle Monty's fondness of Marwood could prove to be problematic because he intends to have him, "even if by burglary".

Withnail and I is loosely based on Robinson’s own experience as a struggling actor during the late '60s. Many of the key characters in it are inspired by real people, and in some cases even entire exchanges between them were recreated as they occurred years ago. For example, Uncle Monty's statements apparently incorporate quite a few lines that the great director Franco Zeffirelli used while Robinson worked with him on Romeo and Juliet.

Virtually all critics and cinephiles agree that Withnail and I is an incredibly hilarious film. I do not dispute that it is. However, I would add that it is a distinctly British film. Indeed, many of the expressions heard in it ooze that typical British cockiness that makes them irresistibly hilarious, but at the same time borderline offensive.

Withnail and I is also a surprisingly good, bittersweet time capsule. While it is packed with hilarious material, it effectively captures the dying spirit of the '60s and the emergence of a new, more cynical and less humane era. The final sequence where Withnail and Marwood part ways rather brilliantly visualizes this transition.

Even though it was made with a modest budget, Withnail and I is a very good-looking film. In an archival program included on this out-of-print Blu-ray release, Robinson reveals that he was incredibly nervous while shooting it, but it never shows. Withnail and I has a wonderful flow and lovely appearance.

As noted earlier, Grant and McGaan are brilliant together. However, there are more than a few sequences where it certainly looks like they have had a few drinks and are not just acting their parts.

Withnail and I Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Withnail and I arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The release introduces a new 4K restoration of Withnail and I sourced from the original camera negative. The 4K restoration is also made available on 4K Blu-ray in this combo pack.

I viewed the 4K restoration in its entirety in native 4K and later spent time with its 1080p presentation on this Blu-ray release. Also, I did comparisons with the 2K restoration of Withnail and I that Arrow Video introduced with this box set in 2014.

If you have an Arrow Video Blu-ray release of the 2K restoration of Withnail and I, which was very good, you obviously want to know whether you should consider an upgrade. If you like Withnail and I a lot and want to have the best presentation of it, I think that you should. The 4K restoration produces visuals with a superior dynamic range, and this upgrade is very easy to appreciate in native 4K and 1080p. Obviously, in native 4K the expanded color gamut makes the improvements more pronounced in areas where they can be -- the darkest areas look very similar and practically identical on the 4K and 2K restorations -- in 1080p the new presentation is better as well. Also, in native 1080p some of the grain fluctuations are more compact, and I suspect that some viewers may prefer them to be this way. Delineation, clarity, and depth are similarly excellent. There are no traces of any problematic digital corrections. Image stability is great. I did not see any surface imperfections to report. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Withnail and I Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed Withnail and I in native 4K on the 4K Blu-ray and later spent time with its 1080p presentation on this Blu-ray release. The comments below are from our review of the 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack.

All exchanges are clear and easy to follow. In certain areas, the rock music creates excitement, but dynamic variety and especially intensity are modest. There are no traces of any age-related anomalies. However, in a few places minor unevenness can be noticed. At this point, I think it is easy to conclude that it is entirely inherited, but a few small enhancements easily could have made a positive difference.

Withnail and I Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary One - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Paul McGann and Ralph Brown in 2001. The two actors recall how and why they were cast to play their characters in Withnail and Nail, what it was like to work with Bruce Robinson, how various sequences were shot, how they managed to be hilarious and remain authentic before the camera while visiting a very strange environment, etc. If you enjoy Withnail and I, the commentary is worth listening to in its entirety.

• Commentary Two - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Bruce Robinson for an Esquire UK live stream "watchalong"in 2020. Robinson discusses Withnail and I and answers various questions from viewers.

• Bruce Robinson and Richard E. Grant - in this exclusive new program, Bruce Robinson and Richard E. Grant discuss how difficult it is to script and deliver quality dialog in a comedy, and comment on their work in Withnail and I. Also, there are some interesting comments on the major differences between film acting and directing in America and the United Kingdom. Grant also mentions that his idol was Donald Sutherland. The program was produced for Criterion in 2025. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

• Withnail and Us - this archival documentary on the making of Withnail and I was directed by Yvonne Gordon for Channel 4 in 1999. Included in it are clips from interviews with Bruce Robinson, a couple of his flatmates, Richard E. Grant, Paul McGann, and casting director Mary Selway, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (26 min).

• Bruce Robinson and Richard E. Grant Q&A - this Q&Q session with Bruce Robinson and Richard E. Grant was filmed at the British Film Institute for the 30th anniversary of Withnail and I in 2017. The two answer questions about the progression of the careers and collaboration on Withnail and I. In English, not subtitled. (28 min).

• Photo Gallery - presented here is a collection of photographs featuring Richard E.Grant and Paul McGann taken by artist Ralph Steadman during rehearsals for Withnail and I.

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for Withnail and I. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by critic David Cairns and technical credits.

Withnail and I Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

After the opening credits disappear, it takes only a few minutes to realize that Withnail and I comes from a different, freer era, and is bolder than ninety-nine percent of contemporary British films. Today, some British distributors place warnings on their releases to protect viewers from films exactly like Withnail and I, which is funny, utterly ridiculous, and of course, very, very sad. Criterion's upcoming combo pack introduces a marvelous 4K restoration of Withnail and I that looks great on Blu-ray. A 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack is available for purchase as well. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.