Review of Mid-August Lunch (2008) by Dave J — 07 Oct 2009

A sweet, subtle comedy, warm-hearted but never sentimental. The plot - a middle-aged man obliged to take temporary care of three old ladies in addition to his demanding mother - doesn't sound promising, but the pacing is perfect and the performances from all are delightful. The film shows plenty of small moments of selfishness and pettiness, but in the end it's truly heartwarming; this really is how people behave, but they're lovable anyway.

I was struck by how odd it seemed to see close-ups of deeply lined faces on screen; rarely are veteran actors given roles as delightfully nuanced and well-observed as these. It's the sort of gentle comedy that provokes chuckles of and grins of recognition as opposed to belly laughs, but it's likely to leave you smiling and feeling that you've been in excellent company.