Review of Tamara Drewe (2010) by Thomas W — 26 Feb 2011

Tamara Drewe is a British comedy-drama based upon a graphic novel that is itself inspired by Thomas Hardy's Far From the Madding Crowd. While Hardy is stark, realistic and depressing-as-hell, Tamara Drewe isn't any of those.

Helmed by respected director Stephen Frears (Dirty Pretty Things, Dangerous Liaisons, The Queen), Tamara Drewe is a twist on the English pastorale. Drewe is played by Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace, Prince of Persia, Clash of the Titans) who is a winning, charming actress who is better than most of the material she has thus far found herself in.

Tamara returns to a sleepy little countryside town as a journalist wanting to write her first novel. She surprises all whom remember her since she has had a nosejob and is now quite fetching and the eyes of the men in town cannot help look her way.

Tamara Drewe's characters are mostly elitiist, higher-brow, wealthy cretins (be they writers, rock-stars or simply rich) and the film treats most of them as the scoundrels that they are. Tamara returns to a home and meets up with people of her past -- some who liked her before her nosejob and others who wouldn't give her the time of day.

Luke Evans (the upcoming The Immortals and The Three Musketeers) plays a hired hand from the lower-class who has always loved Miss Drewe although he broke her heart years before. Tamara now finds affection(s) from a sleazy neighbor writer who continually cheats on his hard-working, homely-yet-spectacuar wife and a touring rock star played by Dominic Cooper (An Education, The Duchess, Momma Mia).

There are laughs and some dramatic moments and Tamara offers up some valid observations -- my favorite being "Why do I do these things? What am I doing with you?" Miss Drewe is young and tempestuous but she is a character I became interested in following.

Through her ups and downs you never stop rooting for the girl even though she makes some HUGE mistakes ... and credit for this has to be given to Arterton herself. It is a comedy of manners that borrows liberally from both Hardy and Jane Austen.

There are accents in this one, so some might not like it ... but all's well as this one wasn't made for you.