A comedy of manners from Stephen Frears (The Queen, High Fidelity) about young newspaper writer, Tamara Drewe (Gemma Arterton).
Tamara returns to her English countryside hometown - stocked with pompous writers, rich weekenders, bourgeois bohemians, a horny rock star, and a great many Buff Orpington chickens and Belted Galloway cows - where her childhood house is being prepped for sale. Remembered as an ugly duckling, Tamara has transformed into a devastating beauty (with a little help from plastic surgery) and her return awakens passion - infatuations, jealousies, love affairs and career ambitions collide among the sleepy inhabitants of the neighbouring farmsteads.
Tamara Drewe is based on a Guardian comic strip that is itself based on Thomas Hardy’s novel, Far from the Madding Crowd. This third incarnation certainly feels like the results of mulitple adaptations, and while it may be charming and intelligent, it still feels a little ungainly it the way it moves from farce to tragedy and back again.
Quaint English villages are often filled with wealthy city-dwellers, trying to get away from it all but bringing their baggage with them. Here we find writers on a retreat, airing their insecurities, wit, bravado or cowardice amongst each other (or, conversely, hiding it). Veteran director Stephen Frears gives a distinctly British flavour to the proceedings with an expert touch for light comedy.
The piecemeal plot rests on the wholesome shoulders of Tamara herself, winningly played by Gemma Arterton. Her magnetic presence sends the village into a whirlwind of activity, envy and gossip. Equally strong, and longingly looking her way is Tamsin Greig, slightly frumped up here as an under-valued wife.
Tonally, it’s all over the place, and can’t quite be compared to anything else, but Tamara Drewe is a warm, sexy comedy-drama that provides an appealing watch.
By Andrew Hedley, Flicks.co.nz
So refreshingly different from the American low brain comedy sense.
It's okay. But it's named and hung on the shoulders of one character who isn't even in it most of the time. They should have called it Village Lies or something. Those teenaged girls were in it more than Tamara! It's good for a Sunday night DVD.
I was bored out of my skull!!! I'll never get that time back again .. sad :(
Ostensibly a comedy set in a village retreat with a famous egocentric author, his slavishly devoted wife, a coterie of writers and house guests, a hunky handyman, a newly returned and remodeled temptress (namely Tamara Drewe) and two bored schoolgirls infatuated with a visiting rock star. Dig beneath the surface and you'll find cracks in this Pleasantville: betrayal, lies and deception, the unraveling of a one sided marriage, cowardly acts and the eventual redemption of love. A village soap with comic and dramatic elements. Tamara Drewe offers moments of fun and dark pithy reflection.
Dark and funny... but maybe not the kind of film to appeal to everyone. I felt I could hear my laughter echoing around the theatre. Dominic Cooper did a bang-up job as the guy-linered rocker Ben Sergeant.
Tamara Drewe is one of those British comedies in which, one way or another, we envy all of the characters
Think The Archers with a sprinkling of trendier folk and a lot more shagging. Very intelligently funny, with stellar performances.
Jaunty and entertaining.
There is something shallow and cautious about this film, which strains to maintain a glib, cheery demeanor that is not always appropriate to the details of the story.
A delightful frolic that goes down easier than chilled rosé on a sunny summer afternoon.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 24th Feb 2011.
Release date: February 24th 2011.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
