Review of Keeping Mum (2005) by Stefán Birgir S — 07 Jun 2010
A small British comedy that made little impact when it was released 5 years ago. It tries to be like an old Ealing comedy, but it's darker than that, written by American novelist Richard Russo, it's not as bad as what people say, but it's an old fashioned English farce.
Set in the Cornish village of Little Wallop, it has Reverend Walter Goodfellow (Rowan Atkinson) trying to write the perfect sermon for a conference he's going to, but he's failing to notice his wife Gloria (Kristin Scott Thomas) is having an affair with her golf instructor Lance (Patrick Swayze), Walter's daughter Holly (Tamsin Egerton) is going through loads of boyfriends and his son Petey (Toby Parkes) is being bullied at school.
The family seems to be falling apart, then there comes the arrival of the new housekeeper, Grace (Maggie Smith) who notices what a disarray the family is in, and is determined to put things right, even if that means murder.
But there's more shocks in store when a few secrets come to light. It's a good little film, not perfect but it has it's moments and it has it's laughs. It's a different sort of role for Atkinson, more sensitive and caring, and Maggie Smith is wonderful too.
Think of this one as Nanny McPhee meets Serial Mom.
This review of Keeping Mum (2005) was written by Stefán Birgir S on 07 Jun 2010.
Keeping Mum has generally received positive reviews.
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