Restoration

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Restoration

R,

1995,

1h 57m,

Drama/

History/

Romance

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Watchlist

Watchlist

71%

35 Reviews

Tomatometer

58%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

In order to keep one of his mistresses, Celia (Polly Walker), at arm's length, King Charles II (Sam Neill) asks the royal physician, Robert Merivel (Robert Downey Jr.), to marry her under the proviso that they never become intimate. Merivel agrees, only to discover he can't resist Celia, and soon finds himself out of the king's favor. Destitute, he devotes himself to helping Londoners suffering from the plague, and in the process falls in love with an equally poor woman, Katharine (Meg Ryan).

Critics Consensus

Restoration spins an engaging period yarn out of its bestselling source material, brought to life through the efforts of an eclectic ensemble cast led by Robert Downey Jr.

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Feb 9, 2006

Engaging if uneven.

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Janet Maslin

New York Times

May 20, 2003

4/5

Since the robust 17th-century picaresque tale is not enjoying any current vogue, the success of "Restoration" can be considered a very pleasant surprise.

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Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

Aug 15, 2002

The film is overcome by the rumbling workings of a creaky plot as the story grows more serious.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Nov 2, 2022

4/5

…Restoration may not match up with Tremain’s book, but the observation of the corrupt world around Downey Jr’s character is refreshingly bitter…

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Jan 16, 2021

2.5/4

...an episodic drama that doesn't, to a progressively predominant extent, contain much in the way of forward momentum...

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Quentin Curtis

Independent on Sunday

Dec 1, 2017

Michael Hoffman's Restoration is a handsome, intelligent version of Rose Tremain's novel, brimming with gilded images and elegant, paradoxical ideas.

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Michael Hoffman

Director

Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Merivel

Sam Neill

King Charles II

David Thewlis

John Pearce

Polly Walker

Celia Clemence

Meg Ryan

Katharine

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Synopsis

In order to keep one of his mistresses, Celia (Polly Walker), at arm's length, King Charles II (Sam Neill) asks the royal physician, Robert Merivel (Robert Downey Jr.), to marry her under the proviso that they never become intimate. Merivel agrees, only to discover he can't resist Celia, and soon finds himself out of the king's favor. Destitute, he devotes himself to helping Londoners suffering from the plague, and in the process falls in love with an equally poor woman, Katharine (Meg Ryan).

Director: Michael Hoffman
Producer: Cary Brokaw, Andy Paterson, Sarah Black
Screenwriter: Rupert Walters
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: The Oxford Film Company
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, History, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 29, 1995, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.5M
Runtime: 1h 57m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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