Napoleon, exiled, devises a plan to retake the throne. He'll swap places with commoner Eugene Lenormand, sneak into Paris, then Lenormand will reveal himself and Napoleon will regain his throne. Things don't go at all well; first, the journey proves more difficult than expected, but more disastrously, Lenormand enjoys himself too much to reveal the deception. Napoleon adjusts somewhat uneasily to the life of a commoner while waiting, while Lenormand gorges on rich food.
[Holm] saves this film time and again with an eagle's gaze that puts you on alert, prompting you to sit up a little straighter in that theater seat.
– John Monaghan,
Detroit Free Press,
19 Jul 2002
fresh:
Recent and long-standing fans of Holm must relish the chance to watch Sir Ian in a dual role, one that he explores with customary insight, subtlety and good humor.
– Susan Stark,
Detroit News,
19 Jul 2002
rotten:
It's a great big snore.
– Ella Taylor,
L.A. Weekly,
19 Jul 2002
rotten:
Viewers are asked so often to suspend belief that were it not for Holm's performance, the film would be a total washout.