Watching a courtroom judge summing up for sentencing seemingly bereft of his faculties, drooling uncontrollably, verbally abusing both the defendant and the victim would suggest that this might be a documentary. But the judge in question is played by Geoffrey Rush as Stefan Mortenson in the throes of a stroke and soon finds himself confined to a wheelchair in a recuperative aftercare OAP home. It’s a darkly humorous opening scene to The Rule of Jenny Pen and its a not always easy balance to get right and it turns far darker when one of the other care home residents, also confined to a wheel chair, set himself alight.
It’s only the start of what will be far greater concerns for Stefan. Crotchety, cantankerous and contemptuous of the other residents which includes Dave Crealy (John Lithgow) who appears to be suffering from dementia, and on his right hand he wears a puppet doll, the Jenny Pen of the title. Crealy, with a look of despair, endures the malevolent, hollow eyed, plastic faced entity wittering inanely in his ear and rumours that Amanda Holden’s husband was considered for the role of Crealy remain unfounded. But Stefan’s patience is further tested when he finds he has to share a room with ailing former rugby player Sonny (Nathaniel Lees) and it’s here that the things take a turn for the worse when he finds Crealy in their room at night tormenting Sonny before turning his warped attention towards him.
What initially are Crealy’s micro aggressions it soon gets far worse for Stefan. Crealy rules the residents with fear and abuse but the staff seemingly turning a blind eye to what is ultimately elder abuse. Frustrated at his own physical deterioration Stefan, after a life time of ruling over others in a professional capacity, determines to fight back when its clears that Crealy is bending the staff to his will and desire that enables him to carry on unabated.
The Rule of Jenny Pen owes much to that classic of warring elders, ‘Whatever happened to Baby Jane?’ replacing Bette Davis & Joan Crawford with Rush and Lithgow and a timely reminder that our senior generation of actors with often brilliant performances in their back catalogue are frequently more compelling screen performers than the vanilla Gen X actors that the studios are keen to push. Rush as the curmudgeonly and not wholly sympathetic former judge is great and Lithgow is that rarest of actors at home with comedy as he is with a host of scene chewing villains that have taken in films as varied as Cliffhanger & Shrek to his body of brilliant turns in Brian DePalma films ‘Raising Cain’, ‘Blow Out’ and ‘Obsession’.
Directed and co-written by James Ashcroft the film is a compelling watch owing to the two formidable lead actors and there are scenes that veer from alarming to comic (Lithgow’s rendition of ‘Knees up Mother Brown’ is both). But there’s a sense that The Rule of Jenny Pen, though it does take in gaslighting and elder abuse, would have benefitted from becoming a lot darker with its subject matter lends itself to a far more grandiose climax. Though there’s a back story here which is only hinted at this is ultimately is a chance to revel in two great screen actors revelling in their roles.
related feature : We chat to the legendary Ian Ogilvy about his new all star film, ‘Renegades’
related feature : we take a look at, ‘Cliffhanger’ on DVD | BLU-RAY | 4KUHD
Here’s The Rule of Jenny Pen trailer…..
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