Great cast can't overcome poor script
No.
It's ok, but all a bit bland. Actually, no, it's not ok. I've heard so much about how good the books are so I was really looking forward to this, but if the books are good then this must have been taken from other source material.
The casting is a huge issue. Some of my favourite actors on this but they're all too powerful for this. Mirren especially is too strident - why is she in a retirement home when she's obviously a very independent, healthy, mentally strong woman. The cast is huge, but it's too much for the material.
There were just annoyances in every scene. That generation of Brits discussing weight in kilos. Putting a wheel lock on a police car. A police officer giving a talk on home security in a residential home. Using a Grade 1 listed mansion as the home rather than something more believable. Attempting to dig up an entire graveyard without permission. Really poor dialogue. Incredibly poor attempts at humour. Dodgy accents. Overacting by actors who should know better.
Was the screenplay or direction at fault? Both I think. A screenplay with no dynamics or humour, a director who obviously pushed the overacting. And I'm really not sure why it needed such a cast, Mirren must have had half the lines.
I'm sure there was a story and plot in there somewhere, but it was drowned out by the nonsense.
It's ok, but all a bit bland. Actually, no, it's not ok. I've heard so much about how good the books are so I was really looking forward to this, but if the books are good then this must have been taken from other source material.
The casting is a huge issue. Some of my favourite actors on this but they're all too powerful for this. Mirren especially is too strident - why is she in a retirement home when she's obviously a very independent, healthy, mentally strong woman. The cast is huge, but it's too much for the material.
There were just annoyances in every scene. That generation of Brits discussing weight in kilos. Putting a wheel lock on a police car. A police officer giving a talk on home security in a residential home. Using a Grade 1 listed mansion as the home rather than something more believable. Attempting to dig up an entire graveyard without permission. Really poor dialogue. Incredibly poor attempts at humour. Dodgy accents. Overacting by actors who should know better.
Was the screenplay or direction at fault? Both I think. A screenplay with no dynamics or humour, a director who obviously pushed the overacting. And I'm really not sure why it needed such a cast, Mirren must have had half the lines.
I'm sure there was a story and plot in there somewhere, but it was drowned out by the nonsense.
- PaperCrane24
- Aug 27, 2025