IN THE ENGLISH HAMLET OF LITTLE WALLOP, THE HOME OF THE REVEREND WALTER GOODFELLOW (ROWAN ATKINSON) HIS WIFE GLORIA (KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS) AND HIS TWO KIDS HOLLY (TAMSIN EGERTON-DICK), AND PETEY (TOBY PARKES); A SURPRISE AWAITS BY THE NAME OF GRACE HAWKINS (MAGGIE SMITH) AND HER MYSTERIOUS TRUNK.

 

ALL SEEMS NORMAL IN LITTLE WALLOP, UNTIL PEOPLE START TO DISAPPEAR, AND STRANGE THINGS START TO HAPPEN.  DOES GRACE HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS, OR IS IT JUST A FREAK OF NATURE. WATCH THE FILM AND FIND OUT.

 

THE FILM KEEPING MUM IS FANTASTIC. IT IS ONE OF THOSE SIMPLE BRITISH COMEDIES THAT CAN NOT BE MADE IN THE UNITED STATES, BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE ENGLISH THAT WE DO NOT HAVE IN THE STATES.

 

MAGGIE SMITH WAS EXCELLENT AS GRACE. SHE PORTRAYED A CHARACTER YET SO SIMPLE, BUT REALLY VERY COMPLEX.  ROWAN ATKINSON WAS ALSO VERY GOOD AS THE REVEREND AND THE LOVING FATHER/HUSBAND. HE TRIED NOT TO DO HIS "MR BEAN" ACT, BUT HE HAD TO BE A "MR BEAN" IN SOME SCENES.  PATRICK SWAYZE PLAYED THE AMERICAN GOLF INSTRUCTOR, AND HIS SCENES WERE GOOD, BUT NOT GREAT.

 

I GIVE "KEEPING MUM" 3.5 STARS OUT OF 4. IF IT IS PLAYING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SEE IT.

 

                                (c) 2006 Brian Gall