The story of the wild school boy Rich Jenkins, son of a boozy miner and an English teacher who recognised his talent, Philip Burton. A moving, untold story of how Rich Jenkins became Richard Burton the biggest star Wales has ever produced.

‘Mr. Burton’ is a biopic about the early life of the Welsh actor Richard Burton, although it is just as much about Philip Burton, the influential teacher and mentor who led Richard to change his last name from Jenkins to the now iconic Burton. Set in Port Talbot, a Welsh mining town just outside Swansea, it depicts the tough upbringing Burton had with his multitude of sisters essentially bringing themselves up on account of the death of his mother at a young age and his father being a drunk. When he’s given homework one day to learn and recite Shakespeare, he discovers his true calling and ultimately a way towards a brighter future, with a helping hand from Philip Burton.

This is very standard biopic fare and it meanders pleasantly along with the feel of a movie that would belong right at home on TV on a Sunday afternoon. That’s not to say it’s bad, more just to say it’s fairly predictable but also a little comforting. It is aided by Toby Jones compelling performance as the titular ‘Mr. Burton’, while I felt Harry Lawtey delivered a soulful display as a young Burton despite (to my ears) some struggles with the Welsh accent (not to mention the fact he’s a decade too old to play a teenager). It hits the conventional beats you’d expect from a biopic – there’s the tough upbringing, the discovery of a hidden talent, the setbacks, the eventual road to success – but it is lent weight by Jones and Lawtey’s performances.

‘Mr. Burton’ is a solid biopic about the early years of Richard Burton, and it was interesting to learn more about his upbringing, which shone a light on the factors that led to both his talent and his troubles. Despite the good performances though, I don’t think it ever escapes that TV movie bracket and it is ultimately a classic 3 out of 5 movie.

Rating: 3/5

Directed By: Marc Evans

Starring: Harry Lawtey, Toby Jones, Lesley Manville, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Steffan Rhodri and Aneurin Barnard

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5171016/