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Sci-fi comedy

Absolutely Anything (2017): Cast, Ratings & Plot

Absolutely Anything (2017) movie poster

Absolutely Anything is a 2017 sci-fi comedy starring Simon Pegg, Eddie Izzard and Joanna Lumley. It runs 1 hour 25 minutes. Critics gave it 20% on Rotten Tomatoes and 31 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.0/10.

IMDb rating
6.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes
20%
Echo Score
47
Metascore
31
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Absolutely Anything (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 25m (85 min)
Genres
Sci-Fi , Comedy
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Absolutely Anything About?

The premise of Absolutely Anything without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Humanity faces potential extinction, leading an unusual alien council to bestow Simon Pegg with extraordinary power: the ability to do absolutely anything, unbound by rules or consequences. Now tasked with proving Earth's value, this ordinary man must rise to the challenge and demonstrate why the planet deserves to be saved, all while grappling with the implications of unlimited power.

Absolutely Anything Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • alien
  • talking animal
  • body transformation
  • teacher
  • whiskey bottle
  • whiskey
  • big ears
  • police
  • bus
  • human eats dog food
  • dinner
  • harassment
+38 more
  • classroom
  • school
  • dog
  • bicycle accident
  • london england
  • voyager probe
  • title spoken by character
  • dog poo
  • human skeleton
  • crashing through a window
  • worshipping someone
  • dog biscuit
  • london bus
  • tied to a chair
  • gagged
  • hiding in a wardrobe
  • jumping off a bridge
  • supernatural power
  • webbed feet
  • godlike power
  • reference to albert einstein
  • wish
  • pink
  • teleportation
  • eating dog food
  • soup
  • love
  • talking dog
  • man dog relationship
  • feces
  • excrement
  • bicycle
  • novelist
  • dream sequence
  • space probe
  • rocket
  • barking
  • year 1972
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Cast & crew

Absolutely Anything Cast

Simon Pegg leads the cast, with Eddie Izzard and Joanna Lumley.

Ratings

Absolutely Anything Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Absolutely Anything 20% on Rotten Tomatoes and 31 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.0/10. Our Echo Score gives it 47/100, strongest in sensory experience (60) and weakest in story & flow (35).

47 /100

Absolutely Anything Echo Score Breakdown

The overall reception of Absolutely Anything is mixed with a lean toward disappointment. Critics generally criticized its plot coherence and comedic execution, noting labored slapstick and unfulfilled potential despite a notable ensemble. User feedback is divided, with some viewers finding sporadic laughs and appreciating the cast’s chemistry while others found the humor outdated and the pacing uneven. The film’s strengths in production design and performances are insufficient to offset its narrative shortcomings. Overall, the film yields modest engagement with limited replay value.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 45

    In terms of art and craft, Absolutely Anything demonstrates sporadic creativity but uneven execution. The film’s special effects and production design showcase imaginative alien milieus, while cinematography remains serviceable yet uninspired. Direction by Terry Jones reflects playful ambition, though editing choices sometimes undercut comedic timing. Overall, the visual and technical elements offer occasional interest but lack consistent refinement.

  • Character & Emotion 55

    When it comes to character and emotion, Absolutely Anything features a capable ensemble whose talents are unevenly leveraged. Simon Pegg’s portrayal retains his trademark affability, and cameo appearances inject occasional vitality. However, underdeveloped roles limit emotional resonance, and inconsistent chemistry between leads diminishes viewer investment. Consequently, character depth feels underexplored amid the film’s broader structural issues.

  • Story & Flow 35

    As for story and flow, the film struggles with coherence and engagement throughout. Critics note that labored slapstick and groan-worthy twists hinder narrative momentum, while several users found the plot predictable and lacking substance. Pacing alternates between brisk comedic set pieces and sluggish exposition. In sum, the story offers sparse originality and fails to sustain consistent interest.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    In terms of sensory experience, Absolutely Anything presents a mix of audio-visual elements with varied success. The soundtrack aligns appropriately with comedic beats, and sound design is clear though unremarkable. Visually, occasional creative touches—particularly in alien environments—stand out, yet overall visual style lacks cohesion. The sensory components support the film’s mood but do not leave a strong impression.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    Regarding rewatch factor, the film yields limited appeal for repeated viewing. Some viewers appreciate its brief runtime and sporadic humor, while others report the comedic impact diminishes quickly. The novelty of ensemble cameos offers momentary incentive, but narrative weaknesses reduce lasting engagement. Overall, the movie’s rewatch value remains modest, suited mainly to casual viewing occasions.

Plot

Absolutely Anything Plot Summary

What happens in Absolutely Anything from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

As the alien galactic council debates the fate of humanity while examining a space probe filled with the essence of human secrets, they face a dilemma: should they destroy Earth or integrate humans into their interstellar community? To test the integrity of this strange species, they inexplicably bestow unparalleled power upon one unsuspecting soul. This individual turns out to be Neil Clarke, an overlooked teacher residing in London.

Full summary

The whole story of Absolutely Anything, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Absolutely Anything?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What does Neil Clarke initially wish for using his newfound powers?

Cars

Cars in Absolutely Anything

17 cars on screen, including the 2010 Bentley Mulsanne and the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse A207.

All 17 cars
  • 2010 Bentley Mulsanne in Absolutely Anything 2010 Bentley Mulsanne Important role
  • 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse A207 in Absolutely Anything 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse A207 Important role
  • 2016 BMW 7 G12 in Absolutely Anything 2016 BMW 7 G12 Minor role
  • 1991 Cagiva Moke in Absolutely Anything 1991 Cagiva Moke Minor role

Seen Absolutely Anything?

FAQ

Absolutely Anything FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of Absolutely Anything, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Absolutely Anything?

Absolutely Anything runs 1 hour 25 minutes (85 minutes).

When was Absolutely Anything released?

Absolutely Anything was released on May 12, 2017.

Who is in the cast of Absolutely Anything?

Absolutely Anything stars Simon Pegg, Eddie Izzard and Joanna Lumley, among 10 credited actors.

How is Absolutely Anything rated?

Absolutely Anything has 6.0/10 on IMDb, 20% on Rotten Tomatoes, 31 on Metacritic and 3.0/5 on Movie Insider.

Does Absolutely Anything have a post-credit scene?

No. Absolutely Anything has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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