Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Search cinema listings

Browse cinemas A-Z

Search 20,000 reviews

 

The Baker (2007)

Director: Gareth Lewis

2

Time Out rating

Average user rating
3 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Playing like a would-be comic version of ‘I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead’, this gently likeable, undemanding and silly Lottery-funded – and clearly TV-bound – comedy-drama sees Damian Lewis (the writer-director’s older brother) as the hitman hiding out in a Welsh village hoping for ‘a second chance’ baking cakes with amateur vet Kate Ashfield.

High-points include character actor Steve Spiers, as a landlord and re-enactment enthusiast, singing ‘Volare’ at a funeral; low-points, Lewis and Ashfield making out naked in a shower of flour and ketchup. In what you might call a postmodern awareness of Welsh and communitarian Brit-com clichés, director Gareth Lewis plays it all just this side of ‘Comic Strip’ pastiche but goes for an orthodox heart-warmer finale rather than a spoof ‘Dai of the Dead’ hail of bullets.

Michael Gambon, in a cameo gives a masterclass in how not to take things too seriously, a lead that most of the players dutifully follow.

Author: Wally Hammond 2008-02-26 12:28:40

Time Out London Issue 1958 Feb 27 – March 4


  • Print this page
  • Send to a friend

User reviews of this film

  • Raj said...
    Posted on Mar 03 2008 12:30 good in places and not so good in others but original i'd give it a 3 out of 5
    Report as inappropriate
  • Ellen Chen said...
    Posted on Feb 28 2008 14:30 funny!!!
    Report as inappropriate
  • John Wark said...
    Posted on Feb 27 2008 13:24 Really charming and funny little film. Quite mad and original. I liked the girl from Shaun of the dead.
    Report as inappropriate

What do you think?
Post your review now

clear rating
Min 1 star. Zero stars will be treated as unrated.

*mandatory fields


Get 2 for 1 pizza and cinema tickets with Orange Click Here

Cast & crew

Director: Gareth Lewis

Producer: Damian Lewis

Cast: Damian Lewis, Kate Ashfield, Nikolai Coster Waldau, Michael Gambon full cast

Genre(s): Comedy

Rated: 12

Duration: 85 mins

UK Release: Feb 29 2008




Top Stories

Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'

Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'

Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him

Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?

Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?

How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains

Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'

Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'

We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon

A gateway to all things 'New Moon'

A gateway to all things 'New Moon'

In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.

London Children's Film Festival

London Children's Film Festival

Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival

The films that deserve a TV spin-off

The films that deserve a TV spin-off

With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations

The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'

The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'

Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’

Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'

Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'

Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'

Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?

Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?

Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer

Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam

Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam

In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations