The Private Life of Samuel Pepys

England, 1660s. Samuel Pepys, secretary of the Navy Board, is accused of treachery and corruption. Things look grim: his nemesis, Lord Shaftesbury, is the judge and has bribed the jury. Pepys remembers the events that lead to this point, his marriage, his lovers, his dealings while on the Navy Board. All of these are captured in his diary.

Samuel Pepys is an important figure in British history, helping reform the Royal Navy and putting it on a path to being the most powerful navy on Earth, a factor that would shape Britain's future for the next three centuries. He is also famous for his diary, a document that helped historians reconstruct many of the events of mid-17th century Britain.

This film touches on these events but doesn't emphasise them much. As the title implies, this film is largely about Pepys's private life. Considering his easily-wandering eye it is reasonably interesting and amusing though never becomes particularly engaging.

Steve Coogan is fairly good as Pepys though the role is hardly a stretch. He basically doing Alan Partridge set in the 17th century. The script is funny in spells but hardly laugh-a-minute. It is also half-drama but hard to take seriously due to the comedy. Maybe that's the problem: the neither-fish-nor-fowl comedy vs drama aspect.

Overall, it's interesting and edifying enough but not great.