Keeping Mum
Review by
Clint Morris
If laughs were worth five
bucks each, you’d get good value for money with Rowan
Atkinson’s latest film.
There’s
about four good chuckles here, and if you worked that out to fiscal
value – that’s about twenty bucks worth of humour.
But
when you can get thrice as many giggles in just one half hour episode
of Atkinson’s Mr
Bean,
which the Aunty shows for nothing mind you, some might feel the sting
handing over the greenbacks for the Brit comics’ Keeping Mum.
Atkinson
plays the vicar of a rural village that’s seemingly living in
a
different world to his bored wife (Kristin Scott-Thomas) and kids
(notably, an over-sexed daughter). Since he’s more concerned
with
writing the perfect sermon to introduce himself to the locals,
she’s off flirting with her American golf teacher (Patrick
Swayze).
New housekeeper Grace (Maggie Smith) might
be the one
to bring the family back together: but not before they discover that
she has a few decomposing skeletons in her closet (or in this case,
luggage).
As aforesaid, there’s enough
going on in this
mildly funny black comedy to sustain viewers’ interest
–
but nothing that you couldn’t easily wait for Blockbuster to
stock. Atkinson is good, as always, but incongruously, he
passes
off most of the funny moments in the film to his co-stars –
notably, a self-deprecating Swayze, who snags one of his better roles
of late. Whoever thought of casting Atkinson as the ‘straight
man’ needs to delve into the funnyman’s back
catalogue
– he’s best when he’s anything but.
If
you’re over the age of 65, never get sick of
Atkinson’s
‘seen it all before’ schtick or simply fancy seeing
an
ageing Patrick Swayze in his underoos, this still might be your bag. If
you only see one movie this year though – don’t
waste the
solo multiplex outing on so-so numbers like this.2.5 out
of 5
Keeping Mum
Australian release: Thursday
26th, January, 2006
Cast: Rowan Atkinson, Maggie Smith, Kristin
Scott Thomas, Patrick Swayze
Director: Niall
Johnson.
Website: Click
here.
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