"The Last of Robin Hood" is a film about the final year of Errol Flynn's life and his relationship with an under-aged girl (Dakota Fanning). The story, interestingly, is told much from the point of view of the girl's mother Susan Sarandon),a 'stage mother' who did nothing to stop her relationship with Flynn when the girl was only 15! In fact, she tried to capitalize on this as much as she possibly could and the story is about her, in essence, selling her daughter to the dissipated actor.

Errol Flynn was played very well by Kevin Kline. He did a nice job imitating the great actor, though in some ways Kline was too youthful and healthy looking...even though in real life he was 18 years older than Flynn when Flynn died. At 50, Flynn looked awful...much older, puffy and bleary-eyed....and the only way to really achieve this would be to get Kline hooked on drugs and alcohol for many, many years! You certainly can't blame Kline for this!! And, at times, he really had me believing him, playing Flynn very well.

Dakota Fanning was an excellent choice to play the girl, Beverly Aadland. This is because although Fanning was of age, she really looked 15-17 like she was supposed to be in the film. Sarandon was also very, very good...which, considering her other film work isn't much of a surprise.

The film begins with the death of Flynn and then consists of flashbacks going back about a year when he met Aadland. It seems they were both in the same film, "Too Much, Too Soon"...which is pretty ironic, as the film is about the dissipated final days of Flynn's drinking buddy, John Barrymore. Flynn played the severe alcoholic and his own life (with and without Aadland) mirrored that of Barrymore.

In these opening scenes, there is a media circus, with tons of reporters approaching Aadland and her mother for interviews. Beverly, not surprisingly, ignored these vultures. Her mother, ever the stage mother, secretly met with a writer in order to tell her inside story about her daughter and Flynn. The rest of the film is about how the mother allowed her underaged daughter to have a sexual relationship with the actor as well as the aftermath of it all.

This is a really, really good film. Much of it is because the acting was so good. Much of it also is because the film stuck pretty close to the facts...something that cant' be said that often about Hollywood bio-pics! All in all, a fascinating film...one that surprised me and left me with profound respect for those who made this film. With an overall score of 5.7, this film is woefully underrated.

The film is based on a true story about the romance of the famous Errol Flynn (Kevin Kline) and an obscure "actress" Beverly Aadland (Dakota Fanning). The film starts after his death so it can utilize narration of the mother Florence Aadland (Susan Sarandon). The flashbacks start when Flynn sees her as a background dance for Gene Kelly' "Marjorie Morningstar" released in 1958. Flynn was apparently unaware or didn't care that she was a minor at the onset. Mom, a former dancer, eventually encourages the relationship.

This was a major tabloid event. Monica Lewinsky was not the first young woman to be "misunderstood" and have her name dragged in the mud. Beverly Aadland is seen as being less talented than Kristen Stewart, if possible. I thought the female acting was good. Kline as Flynn was boring. I was excited as I love films of the era, "My Week with Marilyn" or 'Hitchcock" just to name two. This one didn't seem to measure up. Where was the climax scene? There were no great scenes and there were slow scenes. 3 Stars.

Guide: Brief sex scene. Kline nearly naked except for a hat. IMDB claims 2 F-bombs that I missed although I caught the "C" word and an SOB.

Anthony Hopkins and Toby Jones did amazing work as Alfred Hitchcock; Meryl Streep was incredible as Margaret Thatcher while Helen Mirren was gobsmacking as the Queen, but Kevin Kline's portrayal of the aging Errol Flynn is positively eerie.

He looks like him, he speaks like him and he has caught the mannerisms. Kline was 15 years older than Flynn, but Errol's hard-living evened things up; its almost as though he has crossed back from the other side.

To modern generations, Errol Flynn, if they have heard of him at all, would have to be of passing interest at best, and this movie about his last love affair with Beverly Aadland must seem an odd little movie. Dakota Fanning may even be of more interest. Possibly they would also be put off by the age difference between Errol and Beverly - he was pushing 50 and she was 15.

However for those of us who were alive when Flynn was still making films, and were interested enough to read any of the books about the guy, this movie is close to fascinating.

With some knowledge of his life, you have to appreciate all the little touches seeded throughout the film. One was the way the relationship with Beverly starts with Flynn trying his well-practiced technique of seducing women by discussing with a co-conspirator in front of them how perfect they would be for a part in an upcoming production.

However, after taking advantage of her in a somewhat disturbing scene, his feelings for her go beyond a quick conquest and they become involved in an oddly-matched and dangerous relationship.

Much of the movie is told from the viewpoint of Beverly's mother, Florence, played by Susan Sarandon, who comes across as the stage mother from hell.

Rather than being overshadowed by Kline, it's Dakota Fanning's movie too. She underplays while projecting naïveté on the one hand, and worldliness beyond her years on the other. The last part of the movie shows the effect her unwanted celebrity has on her stability, while Florence actually revels in it.

The film has been criticised, scathingly by some reviewers, not only for skimpy production values, but also for sanitising the relationship, and for not taking more of a moral stance over the underage aspect. However, I do feel we are made aware of the situation throughout the film, and it doesn't ever really get a seal of approval.

Nevertheless, according to Roland Fisher, Beverly Aadland's husband of 40 years, she admitted to loving Errol Flynn until the day she died (in 2010).

Knowing a fair bit about the subject probably has a lot to do with whether or not you will appreciate this film - I for one found it totally absorbing.