The first time I saw Errol Flynn in a movie was The Dawn Patrol. I was blown away by his talent, since I'd expected him to be a swashbuckling stereotype; but, I was also impressed that someone in 1938 could give such a spot-on impression of an actor who hadn't yet been born: Kevin Kline. Once I found out Kevin Kline had made a biopic of Errol Flynn, I rented it as soon as I could.
The Last of Robin Hood is quite sad, as it focuses on the last portion of the great legend's life. I'll never understand why it took Hollywood so long to cast Kevin Kline in this movie, since he made a smash as "The Pirate King" in 1983. Had they cast him in an Errol Flynn biopic in 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, it could have been a different kind of movie. The story could have been more exciting, featuring a star at the beginning of his career, or making a particularly memorable film. This movie shows how the great swashbuckler declined, his dependence on alcohol, his lack of career prospects, and his shocking romance with an underage girl. It's not uplifting, it doesn't honor his legacy, and it doesn't even pay tribute to his great talent. Simply put, it's depressing. If Flynn himself saw this movie, he'd probably be mortified.
Why is this movie worth watching, then? Because Kevin Kline is Errol Flynn. He brings the silver screen heartthrob back to life and puts him in another movie, something we all would love to see. Just as Robert Downey Jr. becomes Charlie Chaplin so completely, you forget it's not a documentary, you'll start to believe there were hidden cameras around Flynn's home that captured him in embarrassing moments. I might not have enjoyed watching this movie, but I was in awe of Kevin Kline's talent-just like I was of Errol Flynn's in The Dawn Patrol.
