Keeping Mum DVD Review

KEEPING MUM reviews

DVD

KEEPING MUM

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2006-03-17 17:02:50

Provider

MRIB

DVD Review

Set in a sleepy English community, Rowan Atkinson plays, again, the forgetful and contrary Reverend Walter, a pillar of the community to the folks of Little Wallop. Life for the man of the cloth seems simple but his wife, Gloria (Kristin Scott Thomas) is frustrated by her nymphomaniac daughter and a son, who's become a magnet for bullying. Fed-up with her monotonous lot, dissatisfied Gloria decides to act upon the advances of a handsome American golf professional (Patrick Swayze) and employ a new housekeeper, Grace Hawkins. As the family eagerly await the new arrival they know not of what's ahead, and praise the Lord do they get a rude awakening. Upon the arrival of Grace (brilliantly played by Maggie Smith) the family soon discover their new addition is not all she seems.

Described by the director Niall Johnson as "a black comic spin on the Mary Poppins story," Keeping Mum is the chance to bring together talented British actors as well giving Swayze a break from straight-to-DVD releases (although this movie faired pretty badly at the box office). Atkinson is his usual blundering, rubber faced self , but it's Smith as the strangely sinister Grace who holds the audience's attention throughout.

Ultimately it's precisely what an international market has come to expect from UK cinema of late. Entertaining slapstick that's quintessentially British, but rather too suburban to appeal to the masses. But if it keeps the film industry over here alive, there's not much to complain about.

Copyright © MRIB 2006.