Niall Johnson's comedy Keeping Mum concerns the family of a vicar who are beset by a variety of problems. Reverend Walter Goodfellow (Rowan Atkinson) is a well-meaning but hapless religious figure in his town. His son, Petey, is a wimp, forever terrorized at school. His daughter, Holly, enjoys the company of a variety of different boyfriends. Wife Gloria (Kristin Scott Thomas) has had enough of her husband and is considering leaving him for a golf teacher (Patrick Swayze). The family starts to
come back together after hiring housekeeper Grace (Maggie Smith), a woman who knows a thing or two about keeping secrets. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
Don't expect Rowan Atkinson in full Bean or Blackadder flight: this is much more delicate Country Life comeuppance at the hands of a deliciously dark fairy godmother.
Rowan Atkinson ("Mr. Bean") plays straight-man Reverend Walter Goodfellow to Grace Hawkins (acted with keen wit by Maggie Smith) his genteel serial-killer housekeeper in this delicious British black comedy.
I would have loved for these characters to have a different plot to stretch out in. However, this story is obvious, pedestrian, warm and pleasant, but mostly a tragic waste of some tremendous resources.
Director Niall Johnson, who collaborated on the script withRichard Russo deserves kudos for maintaining the tenor and tone of the film. A black comedy such as KEEPING MUM requires a very specific touch and Johnson handles the material with aplomb.
There's something immoral about a film that asks us to chuckle at the naughty murders of innocent people and then expects our hearts to swell when a husband and wife affirm their holy union. 'Saw III' has more integrity.
One of those frothy films photographed in the quaint English countryside that yearns to be a word-of-mouth hit, but is too thin and predictable when it should be rich in nuance and off-kilter.
i love this movie, i find it so funny and its the best british comedy of the year!!
i love the cast and i love the story its thoroughly entertaining!!
Maggie smith plays a murderer who has gotten out of prison/mental facility and has come to visit her daughter but without literally telling her daughter so shes come as
a guest to look after the children!
its a really good movie and is completely worth the watch!!
July 22, 2008
Film Crazy
Super Reviewer
I liked this film although I'm not sure it knows what it wants to be. It's both predictable and unpredictable and more dark than it is funny. Maybe I was lead astray by the poster and the choice of actors. It was refreshing in its unpredictable moments but I felt there was very little pay off at the end. I found the
last 'Twist' in the story line a bit lazy, a bit too dark and ultimately disappointing. Highlights were the script, direction and Liz & Maggie Smith.
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