This backstage drama about the trials and tribulations of Gilbert and Sullivan’s working relationship and their creation of the comic opera The Mikado presents a panoramic view of the late 1800s British theatre world. Great music, light comedy, and very thorough period details make for splendid entertainment.

Informative and entertaining movie about Gilbert and Sullivan. I especially appreciated it since I had acted in "The Mikado" and this showcased that. It also showed what that time period was like and how people were lived at many different levels of society. Saw on HBO and because it was on the Time Out Best British Films list.

"I'm going out to seek a bit of Italian hokey-pokey, and I care not who knows it." Heavy with period production value, Topsy-Turvy is an exploration of the collaboration between Gilbert and Sullivan in their later years, with a creative relationship that has seen success and tension in equal measure. Leigh gives these most celebrated musical theatre virtuosos the full period drama treatment, granting ample time to their relationship, individual personalities, and the world around them with subplots revolving around other figures of the British stage and the world of Victorian sensibilities, all in elaborate costume and sets covered in heavy drapery and lace doilies. Though Broadbent's Gilbert and Corduner's Sullivan are meant to be equal partners in reality (and both have their own idiosyncrasies), it's Broadbent that drops the hammer hardest with the full depiction of an accomplished, eloquent, and bristly perfectionist. Together, there's a lot to like not only in the story, but in the personality clashes and the understanding of the artistic process. The strength - and weakness - of Leigh's depiction of the backstage duo is the length. With it, the writer-director touches on not only his main characters but a raft of secondary roles fulfilled by a solid supporting cast that includes both Timothy Spall and Andy Serkis along with Kevin McKidd as a great girdle-wearing diva. Beyond that, there's also substantial atmospheric flourishes designed to give flesh to the surrounding world that took pleasure in the artistic output of Gilbert and Sullivan. But unless you're willing to immerse yourself fully in that world, it's understandable that some find the length to be too substantial; it's not just the final product, but each individual scene is much more drawn-out than you might expect. The film focuses on the duo's last major success, The Mikado, a play that had begun to attract criticism around the time of the film's release for its less-than-authentic take on Japanese culture. However, that's hardly something you can fault Leigh for, and he accurately catches that bit of stiff-upper-lip condescension, combined with a play that was always a British social satire with a thin Japanese veneer to dispel criticism. Some of the stage performances are definitely closer to Mickey Rooney in Breakfast at Tiffany's than anything else, but here it seems to be more making fun of the British sense of self-superiority than the culture that Gilbert and Sullivan were originally making light of. One of the most ambitious cinematic depictions of musical theatre ever attempted, and certainly worth the time of any fan of musicals. (3.5/5)

This is a costume drama film depicting a curious true story. It features plenty of witty dialogue and some comedy - gentle comedy, I'd say. It also features plenty of pomp and fanfare. One quote I liked was 'the more I see of men, the more I like dogs!'. There's an element of operatic diva-ishness present, about both Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Sullivan. The fact Japense people were accused of not being (or not appearing in posture) Japanese was clearly laughable! It's (thankfully) tactfully pointed out that they are in fact Japanese people, to which Gilbert replies "well, yes, of course, that's why their here!"(!). There's a certain quaintness about this film I enjoyed. It shows up English stereotypes and the upper classes of its time, I suppose. Timothy Spall is quite funny in his role, as Richard Temple and also present is Jim Broadbent and Simon Callow, among others (Lesley Manville etc.). The musical numbers and costumes are fun and I liked that there's more information provided by text just before the credits. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this film, yes.

It's hard to imagine the real Gilbert and Sullivan being as witty as the two in this film. But then, the operettas speak for themselves. If a viewer was not a G & S fan before, seeing the numbers in this film has a good chance of making him/her one. Mike Leigh directs with perfect tone, the script is full of unexpected turns, the choreography and singing are world class, and the actors portray the real characters to a T.

this film, filled with great and often-under-appreciated actors (e.g timothy spall), is a depiction of how the original play of The Mikado could have been; told in a historic-drama style it tells the tale of how the 2 playwrights of the Savoy (the namesakes, Gilbert and Sullivan) have grown apart, until, they are inspired to write The Mikado. Great acting, sensitive and poignant moments to humanise all of the characters, some great comic delivery (Kevin McKidd, yep, "the only pleasure [my wife] gets is seeing me on stage"). I have watched this film numerous times and will do so again. I am biased, as I was brought up with Gilbert & Sullivan played every Sunday morning on the record player, and opera was a big part of my background music, although you do not _need_ knowledge of the opera I think you would miss a lot, hopefully this will spark your interest to watch the entire opera - maybe at the savoy ;-) The "I've got him on my list" song by the executioner does get updated every few years so if you want the original (non-political) version you may be better off watching a more traditional version so make sure you choose the one that suits you best.

Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas are a very particular, very English taste. I have always found them embarrassingly second-rate, and overflowing with horrible class consciousness. I love Mike Leigh, but, as many have mentioned, this film is over-long, and from the entry of the Japanese to the film, made me want to go and hide behind the sofa. I would hope that 'The Mikado' would never again be performed, so insulting is it to the Japanese through total ignorance of Japanese society. Maybe Mike Leigh's intention was to show how superficial the 'Savoy Operettas' are, not to mention how barren is Sullivan's music. If so, he succeeded. But, though the film was beautifully made and acted, I couldn't watch the final third. 'Mr Turner' is a far less cringe-making movie.

Basically the movie is the telling of the period when Gilbert and Sullivan have produced their operetta "Princess Ida", which proved to be a disappointment, to everyone's displeasure, especially D'oyly Carte who is forced to revive an earlier operetta of theirs to keep customers coming. Gilbert and Sullivan's partnership was never really friendly to begin with, as the movie shows, but they still have a legal obligation to produce another operetta-can they come up with something better this time? Of course they do-their most popular operetta "The Mikado" comes out. There is no real tension in this movie, just a depiction of the characters and late Victorian Britain and its theater. Neither Gilbert nor his father get along with his mother, who has a scene in which she concludes, "Never give birth to a comedian." We see British reaction to the opening up of then-exotic Japan to the world, which gave Gilbert the idea for the operetta, and all the rigmarole involved getting the operetta written and scored and put into production. Only really recommended if you are already familiar with Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.

Production is good but lacks an interesting plot. I'm not interested in theatre productions which doesn't help but even so, it's long winded and feels all kind of pointless.

More visually interesting than it is in any other capacity.

An interminable bored, 'Topsy Turvy' is definitely more of the latter. Sprinkled with committed performances and elegant music, it's 160 minutes of dullness. Husband liked it more than wife, but not by much. Wife summed it up thusly, "If it weren't for the music it would have been a zero." Husband rather liked the performances, but a first act that should put most asleep, can't overcome a second act that actually was entertaining. It's beautiful to look at, but as a period piece it's nothing more than puff. Wife: 2.2/Hubby: 5.0 Average Final Score: 3.6/10

Beautifully art directed. Well acted, well written, and a delightful taste of some of Gilbert and Sullivan's best known work.

I am a little surprised at some of the negative reviews as this is a delight from beginning to end. As some have noted it is long but worth the duration. Big pluses are the central performances, notably Jim Broadbent and the fabulous sets. Just for fun see if you can work out which part is played by Andy Serkis without looking it up. The man is a chameleon.

Topsy-Turvy is a movie that takes some time in order to acclimate yourself to its style. It builds slowly and has a great deal of subtlety to the humor. Once I was adjusted to how it was telling the story, I finally found myself enjoying it. Most of the humor comes from Jim Broadbent’s performance, because he was so matter-of-fact even though what he said was often ironic or some kind of pun. It certainly helps that I am a big fan of Gilbert & Sullivan’s work. The regular musical breaks were so much fun, and I loved seeing the behind-the-scenes build-up to the big show. The amount of setup that they include before Gilbert even gets the idea for The Mikado is definitely excessive, though. For awhile I wondered if the movie was ever going to progress, or if it was just a slice-of-life look at these two historical figures not working well together. I have full confidence that when I return to Topsy-Turvy and watch it again, I will have a much more positive reaction to it. The end was much stronger for me, but a big part of that was because I had come to understand what Mike Leigh was doing. The cast of the film is littered with a lot of British character actors who you might not know immediately, but their faces will be familiar. I liked many aspects of Topsy-Turvy and I anxiously anticipate the day I’m able to sit down and watch it again, so I can finally “get” it. However, I wonder if (even then) it will manage to be any better than simply watching an actual Gilbert & Sullivan musical.

It's certainly a bizarre spectacle that's feuded by the realist direction of Mike Leigh and exercises an overblown Britishness which takes over the whole film. Granted, this is a British film about Victorian Britain but the stylistic direction Leigh takes may alienate viewers as it aims for a niche audience who probably already have some previous knowledge of 'The Mikado' and Gilbert and Sullivan productions. Nevertheless, Topsy-Turvy doesn't fail in its ambitions and carries through its 2 1/2 hour run time with good humour and glorious music. It's certainly not for everyone but for those who want something a bit more "high brow", this is rather scrumptious! 7.5/10

The story of Gilbert & Sullivan and the inspiration behind The Mikado!!

Full of life and humor, "Topsy-Turvy" is a bouncy backstage look at the creation of a legendary 19th century operetta.

Incredibly boring. Set in the 1880s, the story of how, during a creative dry spell, the partnership of the legendary musical/theatrical writers Gilbert and Sullivan almost dissolves, before they turn it all around and write the Mikado. Maybe you have to be into theatre, and musicals in particular, and/or enjoy a history piece on Gilbert and Sullivan, but the movie is very uninteresting. Moves at a snail's pace, goes for 2 1/2 hours, and nothing really happens. What does happen, you know already, from the provided synopsis. Director Mike Leigh could at least have made it shorter, rather than an endurance test.

Great music. A little overlong

It looks gorgeous, sounds adequate, brushes over the historical details lightly, and gives nothing back at the end of two-and-a-half hours. If you are a Gilbert and Sullivan fan, this will shed no new light on their lives or The Mikado.