Frears has a lot of fun with the bad tempers and high spirits of this crew of adrenaline junkies, and though the story falls a little flat, the script is sprinkled with dry wit.

"Lay the Favorite" is a small and not particularly ambitious movie, but it's pleasing and exceptionally well made.

What has happened to director Stephen Frears?

Broad, flat, lugubrious, the worst example of filmmaking that exists.