Cousin Bette
After a series of smaller parts and cameos, Hugh had a major role in the film adaptation of the Honoré de Balzac novel Cousin Bette. His co-stars included Jessica Lange, Elizabeth Shue, Kelly MacDonald, Bob Hoskins and Aden Young. Hugh played Baron Hulot, widower brother-in-law of Jessica Lange's Bette, in a tale of betrayal and revenge in mid-nineteenth-century Paris. The film opened in North America in mid-June, and premiered in the U.K. at the Edinburgh Festival (August). Some review quotes:
"The star is British comedian Laurie ('Sense and Sensibility'). Like a perfect martini, he concocts the right mixture of humor, vanity, and self-pity. This weak-willed gent ruins his family for the love of a skirt without a single moment of insight or regret, and remains likeable. That's the brillance and folly of Balzac's human comedy!" - New York Post, June 12, 1998
" The other cast members fare considerably better, including the ever-reliable Hoskins and a delightfully foppish performance from Laurie." - Variety, June 8, 1998
"Adeline's husband, Hector Hulot, is played with forge-ahead self-centered glee by Hugh Laurie, an actor known for shining in smallish roles - he was the skinny villian in the live-action 101 Dalmatians - and he's absolutely, hilariously wonderful as the understated philanderer." - Dayton Daily News, August 7, 1998"Other supporting performers, including Bob Hoskins ("Who Framed Roger Rabbit") in a small, but fun role, Hugh Laurie ("101 Dalmatians") delivering a subtly comic performance highly reminiscent of the late David Niven, and Aden Young ("Paradise Road") as the suddenly arrogant, heartthrob artist, are all enjoyable -- even if they're not always believable as French citizens." - Screen It!"The rest of the cast is also strong, especially Hugh Laurie as the vain and preoccupied Hector and Kelly MacDonald ('Trainspotting') as the scheming and morally bankrupt Hortense." - Chicago Tribune, June 12, 1998"Laurie and Macdonald exquisitely convey inconsiderate single-mindedness..." - Knoxville News-Sentinel"The movie has some lovely surprises, among them the sweet relationship between the rich and portly perfume merchant Crevel (Bob Hoskins) and his rival in debauchery, Hector Hulot (Hugh Laurie), whose roving eye and wayward wallet threaten to bring his family to ruin." - Portland Oregonian, July 10, 1998"Romping about in period-perfect wardrobe, Laurie as the lecherous Baron, Chaplin as his long-suffering wife and Hoskins as his chief rival are all top notch. " - E! Online"Laurie (from British TV's "Black Adder") as the dissipated, decadent Baron and Bob Hoskins as his bon ami Mayor Crevel do great, comically vulgar turns." - Cinemania On-Line"Better still than the Yanks are the Brits in the supporting cast. Hugh Laurie is perfectly pompous as Bette's selfish employer and Bob Hoskins is a treat as a lecherous friend of the family." - Mr. Showbiz, June 1998"And there are able performances at every position. Laurie creates an earnestly befuddled Hector, whose love for Jenny, his longtime mistress, puts his entire estate at risk." - Jack Mathews, Newsday"What savage fun it is to see her wreak revenge on this superbly cast chateau of sublimely overconfident fools." - Time Magazine"Bette is thrown into the unenviable position of de facto caretaker for Adeline's foppish, fornicating husband Hector Hulot (the always hilarious Hugh Laurie) and the naive, spoiled daughter Hortense (Kelly Macdonald) -- who, in a vastly different role, played Renton's jail-bait girlfriend in Trainspotting." - Daily Californian"McAnuff's frothy film is a long way from 19th-century French literature, but the presence of a fine cast, Lange and Hugh Laurie particularly, render Cousin Bette's malevolent goings-on almost seductive." - The Independent"Hugh Laurie, best known for his Bertie Wooster on the PBS series, brings the vain spendthrift aristocrat Hulot to life." - Louis Proyect, rec.arts.movies.reviews
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