Catherine Called Birdy

Birdy's a young girl, almost a woman, a bit naïve of all the world in which she's living, but she's got to grow up quick, a new clock's primed and starts to tick, she now has value and a modesty for taking. So arrangements are prepared to sell her off, it makes her quite annoyed, it makes her scoff, so she wriggles and she squirms, to avert taking new terms, prevent her moving to a strangers dirty trough. But her father's most insistent she'll soon pack, for disobeying he metes out several hand whacks, potential suitors are arranged, so she presents as quite deranged, then Shaggy Beard, decides he'd like to have a crack. You're just pleased this is a tale set in the past, a time of yore, so long ago, a long time passed, well you'd like to think that's true, but you know, and I know too, that it all depends upon the cards that you've been caste.

Great acting, great dialogue, not quite as laugh out loud funny as I'd hoped it would be but enjoyable nonetheless - to a point, which it makes very well. There's a very good film called 'What Will People Say' that's worth tracking down if you have the time.

I was so excited to hear that this book was being adapted into a film! And when I saw what a strong cast it had, I was even more excited.

The excitement passed about 15 minutes into the film. In it, Birdy is a far cry from the spunky young heroine from the book. She is whiny and selfish, and not much else. Bella Ramsay does a good job with a one-note character. But the script loses all the humour of the book.

An excellent supporting cast is pretty much wasted here, and I just found myself wishing it was over. The ending was preposterous and unsatisfying after suffering through almost two hours of lacklustre story.

Do yourself a favour and read the book. The characters are better, brighter and I think you'll find it an all-around a more enjoyable experience.

For some reason this reminded me of a long ago ill-fated TV show, "When Things Were Rotten." It was a Mel Brooks production so it had slapstick and plenty of transplanted vibes from the current era into a Robin Hood scenario, I've not read the YA novel that Lena Durham based this on, I'm guessing that was mostly a genteel take on not-so-gentle girls fighting back against the chattel calls of the day.

This film has a TV show kind of flair, cameos and quick quip humor. And it has slaptick/fartjoke humor, but it's all in good fun. So things are Mirthful, and yes things are Inclusive, and that shouldn't prevent one from enjoying the sweet silliness.

The film is by and large safe, although the birthing techniques then were not, and that was a bit of barrier for my wife, along with some of the bawdy and the bile (or other bodily fluids).

Andrew Scott is really really good from Sherlock to Fleabag to one of the more enjoyable takes here as a sitcom-style Dad.

Seems like the film was a lark to work on, and a lark to enjoy. Maybe listen with headphones, to catch the dialog zips and zings best, especially if your ears are like mine and bit too Amurrican. A pox upon me I guess, but just a small pox.

Enough people have gone over the plot so I won't touch on that. I did not read the book, but was excited for this movie when I saw the trailer. It's obvious from the trailer that we are not to expect a history lesson or music by Thomas Moore. The entire cast is wonderful and Bella Ramsey is a joy in this role. Do I think a young woman of that time would get away with acting the way she does, NO! Were girls forced to marry men they didn't want to, pretty much always. RELAX, It's a dreamy movie of "what if a girl could actually take control of her destiny, rather than be treated like a sheep?" Because, let's face it, women were nothing but pawns back in those days, and we haven't come a great deal farther since. Sit back and enjoy it.

8/10 - Most films set in medieval times have a "brown" tinge to them. This film however is colourful and bright - and that's not even my favourite thing about it. I think think this is one of the best things Lena Dunham has ever done, I always liked "Girls" but was never part of the frenzy, more a casual viewer. But this film is really special, Bella Ramsey is so talented as is the whole cast. It also does the rare thing of being a young adult story that teens and tweens can watch with their parents. There's nothing in there that's really inappropriate or gratuitous. I highly recommend this film!