Grow

Greetings again from the darkness. I'm not sure if pumpkins get short-changed with most of their attention coming only during one season, or if perhaps they receive more attention than deserved during that season. Either way, pumpkins are rarely at the center of a cinematic event ... despite having their moments during animated TV specials like "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" and "Spookley, the Square Pumpkin". Director John McPhail (the excellent ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE, 2017) sets out to change that with a screenplay by a trio of writers: Nick Guthrie (MINI'S FIRST TIME, 2006), Ruth Fletcher ("Hawaii Five-O"), and Ruth's husband and writing partner, Christos N. Gage.

Common sense tells us that if you are going to have a family-friendly, heartwarming story, then you best include a kid worthy of attention. When we first meet young Charlie Little (Priya Rose-Brookwell, "The Lazarus Project"), she's trying to escape from a home for abandoned kids so that she can track down her mother ... a mother who left her behind to pursue the bright lights of Hollywood. Instead of locating her mother, Charlie gets connected with her Aunt Dinah (Golda Rosheuvel, "Bridgerton"). It's not a smooth transition because Charlie is a precocious child who wants to be loved, and Aunt Dinah is a very reserved woman trying to make ends meet on her struggling Little Farm.

Mugford, the local village, is known as the Pumpkin Capital of the World, and Charlie immediately dedicates herself to winning the cash prize at this year's contest for the biggest pumpkin. See, Charlie is not just a spirited kid, she is also one with plants - she converses with them, and feels what they feel. Charlie and Dinah enlist the help of Arlo (Nick Frost, The Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy), a local with some past success in the contest. What's surprising here is the nefarious activities of those involved with the contest - secrets, vandalism, and outright cheating. In other words, the pumpkin contest turns into a life lesson for young Charlie who always sees the best in others - even Toby the dog.

Chalie pampers 'Peter', her prize pumpkin, while we get riffs on PSYCHO and THE GODFATHER, and even a use for lion dung. Supporting work comes from Joe Wilkinson ("After Life") as Dinah's former farmhand, Jane Horrocks and Tim McInnerny as local pumpkin legends, and Jeremy Swift ("Ted Lasso") as a lab technician under intense pressure. The film reminds me of some of the Disney movies from the 1960's, as it's charming and funny, and offers up some life lessons - complete with emotional depth as the relationship between Charlie and her Aunt Dinah develops. I don't get many full-blown family films to review, and it's nice to see one that works on multiple levels.

Opens nationwide on October 17, 2025.

From the first scene, Grow draws you into its whimsical world of giant pumpkins and small-town rivalry, and it never lets go. The story of Dinah, a no-nonsense farmer, and her newly arrived niece Charlie - a girl with a mysterious bond to plants - is warm, clever and thoroughly engaging.

What's especially refreshing is how the film uses its central gimmick (a pumpkin-growing contest) not just for fun, but as a metaphor: for growth, for healing, for finding one's place. Charlie's special connection with plants becomes a way of showing how she and Dinah both change and grow together.

And let's not forget: it's just plain fun. The quirky characters, the silliness of giant-pumpkin warfare, the smart little surprises and comedic moments - all make for a feel-good experience that's perfect for a family outing or a cozy movie night. The writers and director have given us something with heart, humor and a real sense of joy. Even my teenager loved it! It's a great film for the entire family!

This afternoon, I was able to view..."Grow". I've become a bit of an old cynic when it comes to most recent film releases. But this family feature was beautiful...and smart...and full of giggles and whimsy. It's a heart warming screenplay that has been translated so well to the big screen. I plan to see it again with my grandchildren.

This is me, the 7 year old girl in the comment. My name is Erin. I loved this movie and I loved all the scenery, the acting was brilliant and all the expressions, the pumpkins were delightful and it was a magnificent storyline. I would recommend watching with your family or with some friends, it's awesome I tell ya.

"It's better to do the right thing than the easy thing." Grow is a heartwarming story about a little girl's dream to win a pumpkin-growing contest. With awesome tales of love, laughter, and the power of persistence, Grow encases Halloween magic with some sweet family elements to make it a blast for all ages.

Grow takes place in the fictional town of Mugford, UK - a small town obsessed with a BIG annual pumpkin contest. The prize would change the lives of anyone in the town, except the Smythe-Gherkins, 50 time annual winners of the challenge. Charlie (Priya Rose-Brookwell) has been sent to live with her Aunt Dinah (Golda Roshuevul) in Mugford since her mother disappeared and decides to put her green thumb to the test by entering the contest. And she will do everything in her power to win so she can use the prize money to find her mom. But with the competition so fierce, does this newcomer even stand a chance?

While Halloween is often celebrated with a bunch of horror films and stories, Grow is a story about family connection and a sweet Halloween film for all ages. Grow is filled to the brim with great actors, like SAG-nominated Golda Roshuevul (Bridgerton), Nick Frost, who will play Rubeus Hagrid in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series, and Jeremy Swift (Higgins in Ted Lasso). It also includes new faces, like up-and-comer Priya Rose-Brookwell, who I predict we will see a lot more of after her first starring role here. As Charlie, she is a perfect example of persistence. She really thinks she will win, even in the face of countless unknowns. The humor in this film is outstanding, with hilarious moments and awesome nods to other movies, like when a gruesomely stabbed pumpkin ends up in the owner's bed in a nod to The Godfather. The set and costume designers have created bright, fun costumes and larger-than-life pumpkins that add vibrancy to the neutral background of the town and farm.

The main message of Grow is that nothing is impossible and, if you keep pushing for your dreams, you can make it to the top. This film includes themes of love, friendship, and persistence. Parents should be warned that Grow includes some scenes with suspenseful moments, including seeing a hooded man attack multiple pumpkins, and a theme of parental abandonment.

I give Grow 4 out of 5 pumpkins and recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults. Check it out in theatres when it plays a limited run on Fathom Events starting on October 3, 2025. Happy Haunts Everyone!

By Jackson N., KIDS FIRST!