I’ve been to the cinema again so that must mean, another FILM REVIEW!! Hello and welcome. Sorry about the delay – it has been about two weeks since I actually seen the film! Who knew that a Bachelor Degree was time-consuming? If you decide to run over a sign saying “Go no further! Spoilers are immanent!” tread carefully.
The blissfully childish WHAT WE DID ON OUR HOLIDAY! Doug (David Tennant) and Abi (Rosamund Pike), are trying to conceal the fact that they have separated when attending a birthday party for Doug’s dad, Gordy (Billy Connelly). But they are having trouble making sure that Lottie, Mickey and Jess (their children) don’t tell anyone that they are definitely living in separate houses. With all the grown-ups arguing while setting up the party, the kids and Gordy, their granddad, decide to go to the beach, where things take a turn for the worst and the kids take matters into their own hands. It is directed and written by the creators of Outnumbered, and overall bestows the life lesson that you canne burn yer granddad on a boat!
Well it has been a while but once again I went to the Kilmarnock Odeon with my mother and my brother. It’s been long, but not long enough for them to change the seating arrangements; seats are still rubbish, but this time I didn’t really care. If a film immerses you, you forget to be nit-picky about seats, or the temperature, or the smell of nachos…or the PICS PRICK. Yep, there was another infamous one (one that you will all know): the ‘rustler’. When it is a quiet scene or one that requires full attention, a person decides to open a packet of sweets or crisps, or rummage through popcorn at that exact moment. Do you ever think in these situations, of just grabbing the object and making a much louder noise just to make a hysterical point!? Maybe it is just me, but whatever the case it can be VERY distracting – fortunately it was only at the start.
Going in to watch this you don’t realise how dark and sad it actually gets; the parents’ divorce, Lottie using a notebook to keep track of all the lies to tell, the whole family arguing, and Gordy dying. But all these dark topics are whisked away by the humorous charm and innocence of the children. Lottie, the most sensible out of the lot (including the quarrelling adults); Mickey with his fascination of Vikings (also shared with his granddad); and Jess, the youngest who has a vivid imagination and befriends a breezeblock who she calls Norman. Most of the film is seen through the eyes of the children, whose acting is absolutely brilliant; it is so genuine and random that you forget that they are actually acting, and this is what brings out most of the ‘comedy’ side of the film. The recurring run-away ostrich and Billy Connelly (Gordy/granddad) were funny too; Connelly had a more serious role, but was still able to include some of his witty personality.
We get half way into the story and find out what the children actually DID on their holiday! The kids decide to cremate their granddad in a boat (like the Vikings); fortunately after they check he’s definitely died while at the beach. There was a part of me thinking as soon as they lit the boat Connolly (as he is) would say, “haha, only joking!” but he didn’t. They shipped him off and it was a dramatic cremation with the beautiful seascape in the background. He had said to them that this is what he wanted, so you know as the viewer that they did the right thing…but when it is explained to the grown-ups in their innocent, child-like way, you then suddenly view the situation through the adult’s eyes and can see how bad it sounds, so the party turns into a blundering commotion. I especially liked Ben Miller losing his temper hysterically with anything the children said or did; it does seem like the worst day of his life. But then Lottie steps in and ends the mayhem between the grown-ups by quoting her granddad saying that everyone is ridiculous in their own way and we shouldn’t judge or fight with the people we love for being who they are.
This film is very much like a TV episode; just like a long special for Outnumbered or The Worst Week of my Life. But it goes to show that TV is becoming more and more cinematic and it was great to see on the big screen, especially with the Scottish scenery. The cinematography of Scotland was gorgeous; a real testament of the beauty here. With TV comedy you get more frequent gags and it was great watching this with a big crowd of people laughing together; it was a more enjoyable experience. I remember when I went to see The World’s End last year there weren’t that many people, and nobody was laughing apart from me! The people were looking at me as if it was peculiar for me to find it funny. It’s a comedy! Let loose and laugh, you snobs!!
Amusingly after the film, I took my notebook out to write down my notes for this review, and my mum was enquiring if I was writing the problems of our family in it. I was anxious to see this film immediately after I seen the trailer; it didn’t give away everything about the story, but still make me want to see it, which is what a good trailer should do. The film had an unexpected turn, and was brilliantly charming; there was a good selection of actors/actresses, cinematography was great, and it made me laugh throughout. I definitely want to watch Outnumbered now! And apart from seats and the ‘rustler’ the Odeon was okay. Well that’s about me with this review. Until next time, go away!
WHAT WE DID ON OUR HOLIDAY: 8/10
KILMARNOCK ODEON: 7/10
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