The Horrible Histories series has had success in book, animated, live-action TV, and theatre form, so it was only a matter of time before its unique brand of historical comedy finally made the leap to the silver screen. The biggest stage yet could yield a fresh audience, but while it has its moments Rotten Romans struggles to make a strong case for what franchise newcomers have been missing out on.
![Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5d3b/0981/6e02/afd2/aa34/d6a0/horrible-histories-2.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
The improbable friendship between resourceful Roman Atti (Croft) and spirited Celt Orla (Jones) forms the movie’s focus, and while those interactions fizzle rather than spark, Orla fares much better as a character in her own right. Inspired by rebellion leader Boudicca (Kate Nash) to become a warrior, Jones imbues her with a self-assurance that remains likeable even in Orla’s more naive moments.
Still, for all of its period trappings, Horrible Histories never escapes the sense of feeling more like a feature-length TV special than a movie. This is reflected in the song and dance numbers – an element the franchise has become renowned for – which, for all the impressive verve the cast musters, fail to linger in the memory.
In addition to Jones’ Orla, there are some bright spots throughout. Sherlock’s Rupert Graves is a hoot in limited screen time as General Paulinus, and Craig Roberts’ performance as the bratty and impulsive Emperor Nero is a consistent highlight. Whether he’s planning battle strategies or quarrelling with his power-hungry Mother Agrippina (Kim Cattrall), it’s fun to watch him having a blast with the role. It’s just a shame that more of the humour isn’t of a similar quality, the screenplay instead opting for a cheap, gross, and crucially not very funny gag all too often.