Watch The Odd Job

The 1978 movie "The Odd Job" is a British comedy film directed by Peter Medak, and featuring an all-star cast of Graham Chapman, David Jason, Diana Quick, Simon Williams, and Roddy Maude-Roxby, among others. The film is set in London and revolves around the life of a meek and timid man named Arthur Harris (Graham Chapman), who is down on his luck after being fired from his job as a janitor. Desperately in need of money and unable to find work, he decides to take an off-beat and unconventional approach to make some money.

Arthur comes up with the idea of advertising himself as a person who would do odd jobs for people in need of assistance. He puts up posters all around town, declaring himself to be up for any task that people could think of. Soon enough, Arthur starts getting calls from various people in need of a helping hand. Some of the jobs are bizarre, others are dangerous, and some are downright hilarious. But Arthur takes them all in stride, determined to earn as much money as he can.

His first job is for a wealthy businessman named Mr. Bartlett (Simon Williams), who wants Arthur to impersonate him at a soirée so that he can avoid going to a party hosted by his ex-wife. Arthur accepts the job and even manages to charm Mr. Bartlett's former spouse, but things take a dramatic turn when he discovers that the woman he has been dancing with is in fact an international criminal being pursued by the police.

As the jobs keep pouring in, Arthur finds himself in increasingly bizarre situations. He ends up working as an experimental guinea pig for a mad scientist, as a nanny for a wealthy but eccentric family, as a human target for a knife-thrower at a circus, and as a pretend thief to help burglar-proof a house. Through it all, Arthur remains determined to complete each task to the best of his ability, but his luck ultimately catches up with him as he finds himself in increasingly dangerous scenarios.

One of the most interesting aspects of the film is how it approaches the portrayal of Arthur's character. On one hand, the film shows him as a bumbling fool who is prone to accidents and misjudgments. On the other hand, he also comes across as a sympathetic and somewhat tragic figure who is simply trying to make ends meet in a world that seems determined to keep him down.

The film's attention to detail and its expertly crafted comedic situations are also commendable. Medak does an excellent job of creating a whimsical and playful world that allows the film's absurd humor to shine through. The dialogues are witty and intelligent, and the film's pacing is perfect - making sure that the viewer is entertained from start to finish.

Overall, "The Odd Job" is a delightful comedy that will appeal to anyone who appreciates British humor. It is a character-driven story that is well-written and features great performances by a talented cast. While the film may not have been a box-office success when it was released in 1978, it has since become a cult classic, and remains popular among fans of British cinema.