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Keeping Mum (2004)

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6 reviews

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

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User reviews of this film

bowen said...

Posted on Mar 24 2011 08:31 Watched this on film4 last night. A failed attempt of a film trying to masquerade as an Ealing Comedy? Full of lazy sterotypes, from bumbling vicars to brash Americans to boy crazy teenager. Charmless!

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Ray Ellis said...

Posted on Nov 13 2010 02:29 How wrong can a film critic be? Did he ever even watch this film? I've just watched it on TV and thought it was a delightful, lighthearted piece of traditional British comedy. Sure, a minimal use of bad language but only to comedic
effect. Wonderful.

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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...

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.

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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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