Experience Preferred... But Not Essential

I agree - this is a thoroughly delightful film! It puts a new, entirely believable twist on the usual "coming of age" saga, with nicely developed and interesting characters. There are some quirky moments, but they're endearing, not the least bit offensive. I have been looking for a copy of this movie for years, on line as well as at going-out-of-business video stores, to no avail. Every year I check to see if it has been released on DVD...I refuse to give up hope! This is one little film that those of us who already love it want to see again - and are eager to share with a whole new group of group of viewers who are sure to become fans!

I had this film on VHS when I was a young girl,and I watched it until the tape broke! I would love to watch it again but I can't seem to find a copy anywhere. The characters are so varied and interesting that you find your self drawn into the world behind the running of a busy hotel and in the end your sad to leave all of the colourful characters behind. The storyline is so simple, but so cleverly written it only enhances the enjoyment of the film. What I loved the most about this film was the attention to detail, Annies attic room was a a wonderful piece of set design. I too would loved to have seen what happened to these people a few years on. It's such a shame this hasn't been released on DVD it's such a waste for for it not to be seen.

If the characters in your ensemble cast are so annoying that you'd walk out of a bar giving away free drinks to escape them, you have a problem.

If the boyfriend of the main heroine is a sex-obsessed stalker who tries jumping into bed with her at every opportunity and this is presented as 'charming' behavior, you have a problem.

If the best thing about your film is an ongoing joke about a naked sleepwalker and the soundtrack full of 60's hits, then you have a problem.

Basically, this whole film shouldn't be rated PG for Parental Guidance, it should just be P for 'problem'. And plodding. And prosaic. And pedestrian. And... 4/10.

Annie is a student in the sixties. She has temporarily departed from academia to take a summer job at a seaside hotel in Wales. This movie follows Annie's relationships and interaction with the other members of staff and the outcome of their various dilemmas. That might sound a little heavy bearing in mind that this is a comedy, but it is witty, amusing and totally delightful.

The staff at the hotel are made up of a chatty Scots chef, a brash waitress and her abusive Elvis lookalike boyfriend, the roommate who closes her ears to the noises taking place right next to her, another roommate that closes her eyes to the nightly view of the sleepwalking nudist, the receptionist who is on extremely good terms with the hotel manager and the waitress who ran away from home at the age of 36.

Each of these characters and their life experiences make such an impression on the blank page that is Annie that when she leaves she is a different girl. A brief but enchanting gem of a movie.

No matter how many times I watch this delightful coming-of-age movie, I discover something new about the characters. They almost seem to grow with you over the years, so familiar do they become to you, like old friends. These (well, most of these) are people I would want to know, women I would love to have as friends for life -- I DO have friends for life like them. I find myself wondering what their lives would be like now, 40+ years after the film is supposed to take place. That, to me, is the mark of a film extraordinarily well conceived, written, directed and acted. An absolutely dear, touching, funny film, very worth hunting down.