A Private Function (1984)
Average Rating: 7.4/10
Reviews Counted: 5
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 0
No consensus yet.
Release Date: Mar 11, 1985 Limited
liked it
Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 2,040
Movie Info
A British couple's attempts to circumvent local food-rationing regulations trigger a chaotic series of events in this satirical comedy set in post-World War II England. The couple's scheme centers on a massive hog which has been illegally raised by a local farmer. Seeing a chance to capitalize on pork's scarcity, the ambitious Joyce Chilvers (Maggie Smith) convinces her mild-mannered husband (Michael Palin) to steal the pig. Unfortunately for the Chilverses, a vigilant food inspector is on duty
Mar 11, 1985 Limited
Jul 5, 2005
Island Alive
Watch It Now
Cast
-
Michael Palin
Gilbert Chilvers -
Maggie Smith
Joyce Chilvers -
Liz Smith
Mother -
Denholm Elliott
Dr. Charles Swaby -
Richard Griffiths
Henry Allardyce -
John Normington
Frank Lockwood -
Bill Paterson
Maurice Wormold -
Anthony Haygarth
Bernard Sutcliffe -
Alison Steadman
Mrs. Allardyce -
Pete Postlethwaite
Nuttol -
Jim Carter
Inspector Noble -
Rachel Davies
Mrs. Forbes -
Reece Dinsdale
P.C. Penny -
Donald Eccles
Father -
Denys Hawthorne
Hotel Manager -
Eileen O'Brien
Mrs. Sutcliff -
Philip Whileman
Preston -
Elijah Wood
Ernest -
Charles McKeown
Medcalf -
David Morgan
Marvin -
Gilly Coman
Dorothy -
Lee Daley
Painter's Boy -
Don Estelle
Barraclough -
Amanda Gregan
Veronica -
Josie Lane
Mrs. Beavers -
Maggie Ollerenshaw
Woman -
Susan Porrett
Mrs. Medcalf -
Paula Tilbrook
Mrs. Turnbull -
Bernard Wrigley
Painter -
-
ADVERTISEMENT
All Critics (9) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (0) | DVD (5)
A gentle and amusing, very English comedy.
Entertains, but never dazzles or impresses us with its script, performances, or even production design.
Click to read the article.
Audience Reviews for A Private Function
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
Discussion Forum
What's Hot On RT
New Desolation of Smaug trailer!
Naomi Watts is Princess Di
The Hangover 3, The Purge, and More
Trailer for a squirrely heist flick
See what's on TV tonight
Fresh Links
Featured
Halloween Movies For Wimps
Scary movies too scary for you? Here are some alternatives for October 31st.
10 Best Superhero TV Shows
HitFix combs through TV history to compile a superpowered list.
Ridiculous Movie Mistakes
RollingStone proves even the best movies miss a details here and there.
Deadly Movie Kids
Moviefone lists 11 Movie Kids Who Could Kick Our Asses.
50 States, 50 Movies
For July 4th, TimeOut has compiled 50 state-specific movie choices.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter!
Spice up your feed with hourly Tomatometer updates!
Featured on RT
- Primetime Preview: Supernatural, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and More 0
- RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: The Hangover Part III, The Purge, and More 11
- Primetime Preview: Beauty and the Beast, Sleepy Hollow and More 0
- NYFF: Joaquin Phoenix and James Gray talk The Immigrant 2
- Box Office Guru Wrapup: Gravity Stuns with Record $55M Launch 80
- Primetime Preview: Witches of East End, Once Upon a Time and More 4
- Weekly Ketchup: Disney Plans Live Action Cruella de Vil Movie 37
Top Headlines
-
Fox Animated Series, ABC Comedies Tumble in Sunday Ratings
0
-
Bong Joon-ho Reportedly "Furious" About Snowpiercer Cuts
0
-
Record-Setting Number of Films Competing in Foreign-Language Oscar Race
0
-
Woody Allen Cancels Blue Jasmine's India Premiere
1
-
Lionsgate Wants Gary Ross and Jennifer Lawrence's Burial Rites
1
-
ABC Plans Kevin Hart-Inspired Series
0
-
The Shining's Danny Torrance Is All Grown Up
1
This film is chuckle-funny, scattering a few witty moments. The supporting players, especially Richard Griffiths and the great Maggie Smith, are most responsible for the film's good scenes while Michael Palin doesn't do anything extraordinary to create a discernible character, quite unlike his Python work.
Thematically, it's hard to tell what this film is satirizing. It's clear that class is at issue; the upper class characters act ridiculously, and Joyce's societal aspirations seem senseless as a result. But what is going on with the socialist food rationing? Is the film satirizing socialism? The answers to these questions aren't entirely clear.
Overall, good for a few yuks, A Private Function isn't a bad film, but it's ultimately disappointing considering the overwhelming talent of its stars.