After the untimely death of his daughter Paul Raymond reflects on his life. Rising from a mind-reading act Raymond grew to have a fabulously successful career as an erotica magnate that would make him the richest man in Britain. However for all his material success Pauls appetites mess up his personal life such as alienating his wife with his philandering. Furthermore even as he challenged his societys sexual mores Pauls relationship with his daughter proves troublingly problematic as she came of age. While trying to be the best father he could Paul gradually comes to realize that his proclivities have impoverished him in ways that mere money cannot address.
Review
Another reviewer stated that this is not as engaging as other Steve Coogan and Winterbottom collaborations. I won't comment on that but try not to think in those categories if you can because your movie viewing experience will suffer. You shouldn't compare previous works with the newer ones. In this case Steve Coogan makes an otherwise not very likable character at least interesting. And that is sufficient enough to carry the movie through.
At least in my book. Steve Coogan had obviously fun playing this character and it is showing on the screen. Of course there are some usual clichés you get thrown at you but it's almost impossible making a movie of this size that is at least a bit commercial without stepping into them. If you don't mind too much you will get an entertaining enough movie to pass the time.
If the real "Paul Raymond" was half as charming as Steve Coogan in this than you understand his charm. You also should be aware that there is a lot of nudity (not really a big surprise considering the theme of the movie).