Keeping Mum (2005)

Powerful

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Not what I expected - and so much better. I have always loved British humor and here is a shining example of why. It's just funny. A little bit corny but there is some element to it all that truly hits my funny bone.Well done. Good plot. Great irony.

The family of the retiring and oblivious Reverend Goodfellow (Rowan Atkinson) is falling apart: his wife (Kristin Scott Thomas) is lonely and looking for solace with the golf instructor (Patrick Swayze), his daughter is running wild, and his son is being bullied at school. When the new housekeeper, Grace (Maggie Smith), arrives, things begin to look up for the Goodfellows as problems seem to miraculously disappear. What they don't realize is that 43 years ago, Grace was responsible for clearing up a problem of her own in a most interesting way.In this disturbingly entertaining black comedy, the veteran cast display their excellent acting skills. Atkinson is particularly great, and it's hard to find a better actress than Dame Maggie Smith. The story line was engaging from the beginning and flowed with good timing. The humor is not going to be for everyone, but I often found it laugh-out-loud funny. Overall, while I can't give it a universal recommendation, it was an enjoyable film for those who appreciate the twisted British wit.

This a very easy to watch and enjoyable comedy film with a good cast. Sadly Emilia Fox only played a very small part in it. Set in a small village, the vicar and his wife hires a nanny who turns out to be not quite what they expected, and has some very funny moments. Kristin Scott Thomas acted her part brilliantly, she looked so natural and deserves and award for her part. The couple have a young son being bullied at school and a nymphomaniac daughter. Rowan Atkinson appearing in a film means that it must be a comedy and he never let us down, although the film did have a dark side to it with unexpected ending. A good family film,

Super cast, and a classic British comedy plot involving murderous little old ladies. Maggie Smith fits the bill perfectly as the not-so-innocent old dear, ably supported by the uniquely talented Atkinson and his usual repertoire of expressions, and an on-form K-S Thomas as the bored wife. Tamsin Egerton provides the glamour and Swayze the sleaze.Set in a picture-perfect village full of quaint characters, the film rarely goes off-track. However, there are locations that are clearly hundreds of miles apart in real life, but merely a short car ride in the story. The geographical inconsistencies apart, these jumps from one landscape to a very different one also detract from the realism of the plot.It's a simple, mostly inoffensive tale despite the blackness of the comedy, with crime being suggested rather than graphically illustrated - except for a couple of instances, which I feel would have been better left out. There is also more nudity and sex than would have occurred in the golden age of British comedy, such as with Ealing in the 40s and 50s.Not bad then, but could have been much better.