Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008)
Director: Gurinder Chadha
Movie review
From Time Out London
The latest from Gurinder Chadha, the director of ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ and ‘Bride & Prejudice’ is a coming-of-age drama adapted from the first two novels of British author Louise Rennison, whose ‘Confessions of Georgia Nicholson’ series has been a hit with teenage girls.Its interest is 14-year-old Georgia (played by Georgia Groome, unrecognisable from her turn as the runaway in ‘London to Brighton’), who isn’t the prettiest schoolgirl on her pastel-painted terraced street in Eastbourne, but has at her disposal optimism, friends and a clever line in put-downs. The arrival of modest, ‘fit’ brothers Robbie and Tom (who play in a band called the Stiff Dylans) and occasional, dispassionate ‘snogging’ lessons offer her a welcome dose of escapism. Nevertheless, she still feels charged with keeping together her architect father (Alan Davies), who’s planning to move to New Zealand, and mother (Karen Taylor), who’s taken to preening herself in front of a handsome builder.
Chadha’s skill is catching the nervous mood and buoyant pleasure of those early boy-girl dalliances – the best scenes are those of Georgia and Robbie (a nicely contained Aaron Johnson) talking on the seafront. She’s at ease, too, dealing with the girls’ silly obsessions – lists, grading, outward appearance and social comparisons – and the more serious issues of the functioning of friendships and the forging of self-identity. Sweet and often funny.
Author: Wally Hammond
Time Out London Issue 1979, July 24 - 30, 2008
User reviews of this film
-
- nICOLEEEE. said...
-
Posted on Aug 13 2008 22:25
everyone who hates this film can go away.
this film is my favourite yet its amazing i love it!
robbie iss soooooo fit, im gona go meet him hahahah.
and whenever it comes out first day im gona get it!
i recommend people that havnt seen it should go see it!
ive seen it 2wice now cos its soo good!
:D - Report as inappropriate
-
- James said...
- Posted on Aug 13 2008 21:19 This is one of the best films ever. It is so funny. It was the first film I couldn't stop laughing. I will be there the day it comes out on DVD. You must see it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- laura said...
- Posted on Aug 13 2008 14:45 it waz well good the brothers are well fit my the best bit is when she is dressed up at the startlol
- Report as inappropriate
-
- mozza n bennett said...
- Posted on Aug 13 2008 11:34 totally agree wiv dobby!! legend m8!!!!!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Leah said...
- Posted on Aug 12 2008 23:47 This film was amaziiiiiing, I loved it, and my love for Dave the Laugh is unconditional haaha. Cant wait 4 it to come out on dvd.. Wen does it come out?
- Report as inappropriate
-
- nikki said...
- Posted on Aug 12 2008 23:35 hi i went to see this movie just the other day and i though it was amazin couldny stop laughing nothing bad to say about it and it shuld be a 5 start rating .
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Leanna said...
-
Posted on Aug 12 2008 22:07
i love robbies voise his fit :)
but dave the laugh !
tommy bastow omgomg !
his sooooooo fit
im gunna go down to surry and meet him :)
its so weird i was in town and i live in nottingham and sodoes georgia and i saw her with her mum i was like hey are you georgia groome she was like yeah .
i just watched your film at the cinema! ha! she's really bice i got a photo with her :) another thing is weird too! ..
she went to the same acting studio as me :)
i loved the movie PURE ENGLISH :) - Report as inappropriate
-
- Olivia + Katie said...
- Posted on Aug 12 2008 14:03 It is the best film eva beter than the mummy and make it happen go see this you will love it
- Report as inappropriate
-
- amelia said...
- Posted on Aug 12 2008 09:24 i think it was great
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Marnie said...
- Posted on Aug 12 2008 07:53 this film is the best this year it really my situation but after i watched that film i got told i woz gorjus !definatley go and see!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- LISA said...
- Posted on Aug 11 2008 20:46 this film isd the best film of the year 4 girls. i love it so much. when it comes out on dvd im going to bye it and watch it over and over agin. oh ya WILD CHILD looks really good to im going 2 watch it.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- LISA said...
- Posted on Aug 11 2008 20:44 this film is the bet film of the year. i loved it so so much dat im gonns bye the dvd when it comes out and watch it lods of timez. oh ya WILD CHILD looks really good to.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- chazza said...
- Posted on Aug 11 2008 20:41 OOOOOOOh I say I think robbie is gawjus!!!!!!!!!!! I wouldnt mind a peice of him. Goodfilm aswell!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- emmma-rose said...
- Posted on Aug 11 2008 17:40 dobby, i presume you are a boy, yes? Well, although i think its fair for everyone to have they're own oppinions, there is no need to be soo rude. It is obvious that the film is meant for female viewing soo stop swearing and shut up!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- felicity said...
-
Posted on Aug 11 2008 16:12
i bagsey being a stuffed olive this halloween.
luv the film - Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Gurinder Chadha
Cast: Georgia Groome, Aaron Johnson, Alan Davies full cast
Rated: 12A
Duration: 100 mins
UK Release: Jul 25 2008
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Review: Penélope Cruz more raunchy than ever in 'Nine'
Dave Calhoun reports on Rob Marshall's Oscar-touted musical with Daniel Day-Lewis playing a troubled director
Time Out's 101 Films of the Decade
Ten years, thousands of movies and millions of dollars in international box office, and it all boils down to this
Jim Jarmusch on 'The Limits of Control'
Jim Jarmusch has followed ‘Broken Flowers’ with an esoteric crime mystery. Dave Calhoun speaks to him from his New York office
Richard Linklater on 'Me and Orson Welles'
Dave Calhoun meets the 49-year-old, Houston-born filmmaker Richard Linklater to discuss his new comedy
Our verdict on Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones
Peter Jackson ends a triumphant decade with a sentimental misfire with this lush Alice Sebold adaptation
On the set of Ken Loach's 'Route Irish'
Dave Calhoun meets Ken Loach on the set of his forthcoming Iraq war movie
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
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.
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
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














What do you think?
Post your review now