Every so often, a film comes along that, from the outset, might appear relatively inconsequential. Perhaps it features two actors with a résumé as long and exceptional as any Hollywood legend; possibly its nursing home setting and premise of a demented resident terrorizing his fellow denizens look to lean into a genre indistinguishable from your garden variety psychological thriller, even light horror to an extent. Surely, nothing is lurking within the confines of such a film to suggest the moviegoing equivalent of a bobsled flipping upside down, no? Indeed, from the outset, “The Rule of Jenny Pen” does possess the outward appearance of any film, horror or otherwise, as the opening scenes within any nondescript courtroom serve to introduce us to Stefan (Geoffrey Rush), as he presides over his latest case as judge. 
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It would seem Stefan knows his job and knows it well, but even Stefan isn’t immune from the ravages of age as he passes out mid-sentence from an unexpected stroke, prompting the powers that be in the wake of a follow-up examination to see the high-profile official committed to a nursing home. Could this be a simple roadblock as he recovers and, before long, resumes his day-to-day duties back on the job? As time begins to pass, this appears less and less likely, thrusting Stefan into the realm of denial even as he begins to make casual acquaintances and halfheartedly settle into his new, albeit reluctant, home. 
It’s here that Dave (John Lithgow) enters Stefan’s world, with a puppet named Jenny Pen adorning his hand through which Dave speaks in a heavily affected voice and performs song-and-dance routines before any group of inhabitants that happen to be around at any given moment and, most notably, torture the likes of Stefan and his roommate Tony (George Henare). It isn’t long before Dave’s chokehold on the nursing home at large becomes apparent, as Stefan’s pleas to staff go unheeded and Dave’s bullying continues unabated; to make matters worse, Stefan’s physical decline and lack of progress in physical therapy soon become impossible to ignore, pushing that all-important moment of return to his now-former life even further out of sight and only enhancing the suffering Dave seems hellbent on exacting. Will we learn the motivation for Dave’s torment? Revenge following an incident involving Stefan previous to all of this, perchance? Don’t worry; there are plenty of opportunities for the two men to spar, both verbally and physically, and this is where it truly begins to transform into something as baffling as it is unclear.
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Make no mistake, both Rush and Lithgow have delivered legendary performances for decades, with a slew of high-profile awards, signature roles dotting the pop culture zeitgeist, and affable personas gracing a talk show couch or award show seat more often than not. And, while “The Rule of Jenny Pen” could serve as another trivial notch on the impressive career of these two thespians, the film ends up taking Stefan and Dave down a road that sees the actors exchanging spit, growls, bizarre dances, and a combination of quotes and anecdotes that begin to bury the story and its heavy-handed message about, presumably, the evils of bullying and the inability of authority to believe the claims of those on the receiving end. 
Seeing, as much as hearing Stefan cry to nurses during one particular overnight skirmish and how quickly they attempt to send him away does make a case for sympathy. A first-act moment in which he witnesses someone burned alive, seemingly by Dave, does what it can to set an unsettling tone for the film. Still, equal time is soon handed to Lithgow and Rush as they trade barbs, frequently taking a backseat to Lithgow’s antics, with Jenny Pen in tow and without. That said, if you ever wanted to see a film where, not once but twice, John Lithgow orders someone to lick the anus of a hand puppet, look no further than “The Rule of Jenny Pen.”
Fortunately, the events onscreen do little, if anything, to tarnish the careers of two beloved actors who are still consistently operating at the top of their game despite the seemingly accidental efforts of director James Ashcroft. Much like Stefan’s belief that his time in elderly confinement will be a temporary detour for John Lithgow and Geoffrey Rush, so is “The Rule of Jenny Pen.” [C-]
“The Rule of Jenny Pen” opens in theaters on March 7 via IFC Films.