I'm normally a great fan of Emma Thompsons - and a sucker for sentimental, magic based films like this one. However, this is not a very good movie for lots of reasons. I can only think the current rating says more for the competition at the moment, and possibly the US's penchant for British movies in general.
I didn't feel that the cast really believed in it. Colin Firth and Emma T I thought were miss-cast. Emma T seemed terribly static. Her teeth encouraged her to hold the same pose/ expression all the time - something that I found un-nerving after a while from such a usually fantastic actress. (Suspect job of directing caused her to skimp on her own character). Colin Firth seemed totally lost as an undertaker?!!- and I couldn't help thinking Hugh Laurie might have been a better choice.
Overall I thought the film was uneven. The look was inconsistent, and seemed to fall somewhere between Victorian period drama and Charlie and the chocolate factory. The acting was also lumpy - with some being terribly OTT such as Landsbury and Celia Imrie - and others more natural - such as Firth and the servant girl. For a film that much more successfully melds visual and acting styles see 'Lemony Snickerts Unfortunate Events'.
The story itself seemed to be terribly predictable - with no surprises. And the last unforgivable crime for a film with so much UK talent - it's not very funny.
I didn't feel that the cast really believed in it. Colin Firth and Emma T I thought were miss-cast. Emma T seemed terribly static. Her teeth encouraged her to hold the same pose/ expression all the time - something that I found un-nerving after a while from such a usually fantastic actress. (Suspect job of directing caused her to skimp on her own character). Colin Firth seemed totally lost as an undertaker?!!- and I couldn't help thinking Hugh Laurie might have been a better choice.
Overall I thought the film was uneven. The look was inconsistent, and seemed to fall somewhere between Victorian period drama and Charlie and the chocolate factory. The acting was also lumpy - with some being terribly OTT such as Landsbury and Celia Imrie - and others more natural - such as Firth and the servant girl. For a film that much more successfully melds visual and acting styles see 'Lemony Snickerts Unfortunate Events'.
The story itself seemed to be terribly predictable - with no surprises. And the last unforgivable crime for a film with so much UK talent - it's not very funny.