<Review by: Sailesh Ghelani>

Directed by Ridley Scott. Starring Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Salma Hayek, Al Pacino, Jack Huston

In the grand scheme of things this film will be remembered as a overly long B-movie with  great cast and director but with nothing uplifting to say about life or people.

You’re obviously going to watch House of Gucci if you’re a fan of high fashion or of Lady Gaga. But after two and a half hours and some more of this movie you’ll realise there’s not much by way of fashion and Gaga and the cast become caricatures.

Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani in House of Gucci

Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga) would not have hit on Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver) had he simply been a bartender at a party. She knew his family name and with the stealth of  ninja and cunning of a fox stalked and pursued him till he became her husband. Now Lady Gaga in an interview said that she marries him despite his father Rodolfo Gucci (Jeremy Irons) disowning him for wanting a woman who was clearly after his money. But we know she was smarter than that as she proceeded to help the lazy and unambitious Maurizio to get back his inheritance and family business.

Now the Gucci family (who are no longer involved in the company) have taken offence to the depiction of their dynasty as stubborn, crotchety men who loved women as objects and didn’t mind playing dirty but couldn’t take what they were dishing out (Read the article here). This is a film where no one really comes out on top as a hero and where not a single character is redeemable.

A scene from House of Gucci

We learn nothing about how Gucci became the brand with celebrity clients and what soured the Gucci men. They were just bad fathers with lots of money but little class. Or so the film says. Even Tom Ford says he was saddened by the film and while he does remember Paolo Gucci (Jared Leto) as being eccentric and wacky “his overall demeanour was certainly not like the crazed and seemingly mentally challenged character of Leto’s performance.” (Read the article here)

Over the top and probably not flattering to Italians, I’m also curious how come the political correctness brigade hasn’t said anything about some non-Italian actors portraying  Italians! More than chic, the whole affair is campy and trashy. There’s no glamour and plenty of unnecessary bits that add nothing to the story. You can’t empathise with or relate to any of them. Salma Hayek’s portrayal of the crystal ball-gazing Pina is uninspired and dull.

Lady Gaga and Adam Driver in House of Gucci

While it has its moments of fun, you can tell that House of Gucci has been embellished so profusely to make it interesting that it has become unbelievable and farcical. And to be honest the direction stinks. Sorry Ridley Scott, but you’re an overrated director.

The only reason to watch is Lady Gaga but even she gets on your nerves after the first hour and a half.

Watch the Trailer here: