Johnny Depp stars in a comedy-action film 'Mortdecai'

MANILA, Philippines- Johnny Depp ‘s chameleon-like talent to effectively transform himself in any given role is again punctuated in the laugh-out-loud movie “Mortdecai.” Along with him are Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor, Paul Bettany, Olivia Munn and Jeff Goldblum.

Based on the charismatic anti-hero popular trilogy by Kyril Bonfiglioli, Charlie Mortdecai (Depp) is a professional bon vivant and occasional art dealer perpetually at the end of his financial rope.

In Mortdecai, Charlie charms, schemes and blunders his way in and out of hilariously compromising situations as he attempts to beat out an array of international evildoers on the trail of a priceless Goya masterpiece that could also be the key to claiming missing Nazi millions.

Depp had already read and fallen in love with Bonfiglioli’s novels when the script found its way to him. “I’d read them years before and they made me laugh out loud,” says Depp. “They are irreverent and insane in a way I thought would translate well to the screen.”

David Koepp, Depp's friends and also a prolific Hollywood screenwriter will direct Mortdecai.

“I can’t say enough good things about David Koepp. We did a film called Secret Window years ago. It was not a comedy but we were able to incorporate a lot of humor into it, which is part and parcel of what David does as a writer and a director. He had a vision for this movie and he created an atmosphere where the actors could try anything.,” Depp says of Koepp.

Mortdecai book features beautiful people in beautiful clothes, bantering wittily and doing outrageous things. “You want a plot that’s complex enough to support a caper, but not so complicated that it weighs down the beautifully fun comedy,” notes Koepp.

Who would have thought that even Mortdecai's mustache ha a major role in the film? “The mustache is a major character in this movie,” says make-up designer Joel Harlow, Johnny Depp’s personal make-up artist since their first collaboration on Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

“It had its own trailer and traveled with an entourage. If the Charlie Mortdecai character didn’t have a mustache, he wouldn’t be the Mortdecai character. The moustache is such a part of the character and the way Johnny uses it is comedy gold,” declares Harlow.

Laugh-out-loud adventure starts January 22 when Mortdecai opens in theaters nationwide.