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Bookmark this pageKeeping Mum (2004)
Director: Niall Johnson
Movie review
From Time Out London
A would-be black comedy in a rural British setting, this sees vicar Walter Goodfellow (Rowan Atkinson, of course) employing a housekeeper, Grace (Maggie Smith), who just happens to be a released murderer. Equally unimaginative casting comes in the form of Kristin Scott Thomas as a foul-mouthed, frustrated wife and Patrick Swayze as a pervy American golf pro who gets the village ladies in a spin. Grace sets about solving the Rev Goodfellow’s family problems in her own unique style while the family engage in farcical sitcom banter (sometimes funny, sometimes not). It’s like dumping a serial killer into a very, very long episode of ‘The Vicar of Dibley’ and expecting it to work: there’s no artful black comedy here, just an uncomfortable clash between broad provincial humour and a murder plotline. The central cast are up to the job: Smith deadpans delightfully when she can, and Atkinson upgrades his bumbling ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ performance to mildly amusing effect. But despite its genial characters, ‘Keeping Mum’ is an undisciplined, ultimately unsuccessful experiment in British black comedy.Author: AS
Time Out London Issue 1841: November 30-December 7 2005
User reviews of this film
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- G Plam-nt said...
- Posted on Aug 18 2009 03:14 Shame the critic gives a personal view and not think what the general public may enjoy,excellent film Maggie Smih in articular
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- Rowan said...
- Posted on Sep 08 2008 13:56 Have to disagree with the review. I thought the film was hilarious. Maggie Smith and Kristin Scott Thomas were particularly good as housekeeper and wife. Both managed to deliver truly unbelievable lines with flair (and straight faces, which can't have been easy). It's a pity Rowan Atkinson didn't get more of a part, his job is mainly to be oblivious.
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- D. Frances said...
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Posted on Jan 02 2008 06:16
A masterpiece in comedy minus melodrama.
Kudos to using fine actors whose appearance simulates actual people. people actually have lines on their faces
What a relief ...No cadaver-like women. - Report as inappropriate
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- Elif said...
- Posted on Sep 11 2007 20:30 It is a very successful comedy whatever you say.
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Cast & crew
Director: Niall Johnson
Producer: Julia Palau, Matthew Payne
Cast: Rowan Atkinson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Maggie Smith, Patrick Swayze, Emilia Fox, Liz Smith, Tamsin Egerton, James Booth, Toby Parkes, Jack Ryan full cast
Genre(s): Comedy
Rated: 15
Duration: 103 mins
UK Release: Dec 2 2005
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