Great Character: Withnail (“Withnail & I”)

This is absolutely one of my favorite all time movie characters: Withnail in the brilliant English comedy Withnail & I [written and directed by Bruce Robinson]:

The character Withnail is played brilliantly by Richard E. Grant. Per IMDB:

London 1969 — two ‘resting’ (unemployed and unemployable) actors, Withnail and Marwood, fed up with damp, cold, piles of washing-up, mad drug dealers and psychotic Irishmen, decide to leave their squalid Camden flat for an idyllic holiday in the countryside, courtesy of Withnail’s uncle Monty’s country cottage. But when they get there, it rains non-stop, there’s no food, and their basic survival skills turn out to be somewhat limited. Matters are not helped by the arrival of Uncle Monty, who shows an uncomfortably keen interest in Marwood…

If you’ve not seen the movie, I’d advise skipping these best of videos and scampering off to Netflix to watch said film immediately. It will likely be some of the most enjoyable 107 minutes of your life. For those who have experienced W&I, here are some moments to remember:

Part 2 is here.

A few choice sides of dialogue from the movie:

Withnail: [reading from the paper] “In a world exclusive interview, 33-year-old shotputter Geoff Woade, who weighs 317 pounds, admitted taking massive doses of anabolic steroids, drugs banned in sport. ‘He used to get in bad tempers and act up,’ said his wife. ‘He used to pick on me. But now he’s stopped, he’s much better in our sex life and in our general life.’” Jesus Christ, this huge, thatched head with its earlobes and cannonball is now considered sane. “Geoff Woade is feeling better and is now prepared to step back into society and start tossing his orb about.” Look at him. Look at Geoff Woade. His head must weigh fifty pounds on its own. Imagine the size of his balls. Imagine getting into a fight with the fucker!
Marwood: Please, I don’t feel good.
Withnail: That’s what you’d say, but that wouldn’t wash with Geoff. No, he’d like a bit of pleading. Add spice to it. In fact, he’d probably tell you what he was going to do before he did it. “I’m going to pull your head off.” “Oh no, please, don’t pull my head off.” “I’m going to pull your head off, because I don’t like your head.”

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Don’t threaten me with a dead fish.

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We want the finest wines available to humanity. And we want them here, and we want them now!

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I must have some booze. I demand to have some booze.

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Right, here’s the plan. First, we go in there and get wrecked, then we eat a pork pie, then we drop some Surmontil-50’s each. That way we’ll miss out on Monday and come up smiling Tuesday morning.

There’s even a Withnail & I drinking game:

Withnail & I drinking game (Part 1)

Withnail & I drinking game (Part 2)

If we look at “I” [Marwood] as the Protagonist — and after all, he’s the one who has to deal with the amorous intentions of Uncle Monty, a significant subplot — then I think it’s abundantly clear Withnail is a Trickster, if for no other reason than fomenting a potential tryst between Marbwood and Monty, just so he [Withnail] can enjoy food, wine and shelter at Monty’s country retreat. A true mark of a Trickster: They are all about themselves.

Here’s to Withnail, a great character.