Gangsta Granny

Adapting David Walliams books over Christmas has become a bit of a BBC tradition in recent years, and this was the second attempt.

While not as good as 'Mr Stink' this is a warm hearted and funny piece of entertainment for all the family, that features some big name stars embracing the fun.

It doesn't lag in terms of pace and has the necessary sadness that underpin the humour that 'The Boy in the Dress' which followed a year later lacked.

The star stealing turn for me was from Miranda Hart, who manages to earn a laugh from practically all of her lines.

Well done to all involved.

I watched this movie ages ago and I found it alright but a bit daft at some parts. I definitely prefer the other films like Ratburger, Mr stink and Boy in the dress, but it isn't too bad.

If you want to watch a David Walliams film with your family, then i would recommend Mr Stink or Boy in the dress, but if you want to watch one for a laugh then Gangsta Granny is a good pick.

The book was very good and i enjoyed reading it, yet i think the film is a bit worse, but not too much.

I highly think that this doesn't deserve to be rated as low as it is, but not between 7-10, i would say either a 5 or 6, but i can't decide for everyone.

Suffice it to say that I had never heard about this 2013 British comedy titled "Gangsta Granny", when I happened to stumble upon it by random chance here in 2024. And with its rather odd title, I have to say that the movie did catch my attention right away. And with it being a movie I hadn't already seen, of course I opted to sit down and watch it.

I was surprised to see that David Walliams was starring in the movie, and had also been writing the script. But that definitely just helped to peak the interest in sitting down to watch the movie.

The storyline in the movie was adequate, though I have to admit that I was expecting a tad more comedy. However, it would seem that "Gangsta Granny" was a kids movie. So it was a little bit of a let down to sit down and watch the movie, truth be told. But I am sure that a younger audience will find something more enjoyable here than I did. It is not that writers David Walliams, Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley put together a poor script, it just happened to be one that didn't really entertain me all that much.

The acting performances in the movie was good. Leading actress Julia McKenzie and actor Reece Buttery carried the movie quite nicely. Of course you always get something fun with actor David Walliams, and it was fun watch Robbie Williams showing up in the movie in that particular role. So thumbs up to the cast ensemble in the movie.

"Gangsta Granny" is not a movie that I will be returning to watch a second time.

My rating of director Matt Lipsey's 2013 movie "Gangsta Granny" lands on a three out of ten stars.

This David Walliams book adapted for TV showcases Julia McKenzie as a cabbage obsessed grandmother who also masquerades as an international jewel thief.

Her grandson Ben despairs of being sent to his dull grandmother's house every Friday night by his parents (played David Walliams and Miranda Hart) while they go ballroom dancing.

However Ben soon realises that his grandmother has hidden talents beyond cabbage soup and soon hatches a plan to steal the Crown Jewels whilst evading a nosey neighbour played by Rob Brydon.

It is a film that will be a hit with the kids although adults would be nonplussed until Joanna Lumley appears as the Queen and starts dancing.

It's a touching tale about bonding with the elderly but I really expected something more involving. Walliams and Hart provide able support but not enough laughs with their strictly dancing carry on.

Look out for Robbie Williams as Latino dancer Flavio.

A young boy learns that his sweet, meak, mild mannered grandmother used to be a jewel thief, the pair hatch a daring plan.

I think of all the books of David Walliams, that this was the best of them, it's a sweet, fun read, with some interesting, defiant characters, people that have broken free or the moulds that society places them.

It tries so hard, and many of the jokes land a fair bit short, but overall it's a decent watch, some of it was quite moving, the ending in particular was.

Julia McKenzie steals the show, and is a cut above, excellent from her.

Miranda Hart was pretty good fun, her brand of humour was definitely welcome, I thought David Walliams was painful at times.

Superior to the awful follow up that came in 2022, it's a bit of an oddity, but for a bit of Christmas family fun it's a decent watch, 6/10.