Lust, not love, saves the day in Venus. The lust of a very old, very washed-up actor named Maurice for a very young woman. The geezer is played by Peter O’Toole, who, at 75, still emits a singularly beguiling brand of iconic leer. Maurice (O’Toole) in his youth was an also-ran in the early-1960s British thespian renaissance. Today he spends his days at the pub with friend Ian (Leslie Phillips) and other journeyman actors recalling past glories. In pops Ian’s 19-year-old grandniece Jessie (Jodie Whittaker). She’s got a figure on her, and Maurice cannot help but be stirred by her in a way that if performed by any actor not named O’Toole would completely gross us out. Plus, there’s the safety net of knowing his staff of desire is long past its expiration date.
