Summer Rain (2001) User Reviews

3 'crazy' friends living in Brighton.....

[cristabel1982 · 1/10 · 22 November 2006]

Being a Film studies graduate I would like to think that I have seen a diverse range of films, some good and some bad, but I would have to say that 'Summer rain' is by far the worse film I have ever seen! I chose the film in the hope that it was going to be a great British classic such as 'Secrets and Lies' or 'Lockstock' but oh no this was so bad that my flat mates and I ended up laughing and cringing at the ridiculous acting and cheesy script (reminded me of a bad 'theatre in education' school production). The main characters Michelle and Gary began to annoy us from the start. 'Michelle' the main character who lives with her two friends has the type of face that you would never get tired of slapping and Gary was so wet (he kept breaking down in tears every 5 minutes) that by the end of the film I really didn't give a damn about either of them. All I could think was ' I paid £3 for this pile'. I have never written a review before but after watching this film it has spurred me on to warn people of this disastrous production. So please avoid at all costs. Thanks for reading.

summer rain

[paul-2851 · 3 January 2007]

i rented summer rain with great expectation having both read some good reviews and the assurity that it had featured at brightons own 'duke of york' picture house. basically it stank. the cinematography was first class. the sound too was well thought through, ie in loud music sequences. they clearly had the right people in to do the job. but this film suffers from hollyoak syndrome. ie bad acting. i cared so little about the characters that i had to feign interest after ten minutes. lines were delivered as if they had been read only minutes before the shoot and as if they had another four episodes to film that week. the storyline as it was seemed to drag and so much was made of the brighton seafront as if to underpin the weak script. coming to a bargain bin near you

and this film won awards?

[pomphrey44 · 1/10 · 3 November 2006]

Well.......in contrast to other comments previously written I have to say that the only good thing about this film is the fact that one guy in it looked a bit like Jason Donavon which reminded me of my youth. I have no idea how it won any awards, and although I'm sure a great deal of effort went into making it it was all fruitless as the final outcome is one which screams of early 90's foreign soap operas. The plot was non-existent, the cinematography was hopeless and the acting was on par with an a-level performance. It was unfortunately long and the sub-plots were incredibly unrealistic....for example....if your best friend slept with your ex-boyfriend of 6 years after only 2 weeks of being broken up you would not all remain the best of friends. It was all fantasy. That's all! Oh yeah, and the weird 90's house/soft core indie was mind numbing!

Shockingly bad acting in a train-wreck of a film. Must be avoided.

[icouzin · 1/10 · 26 February 2007]

It makes the actors in Hollyoaks look like the Royal Shakespeare Company. This movie is jaw dropping in how appalling it is. Turning the DVD player off was not a sufficient course of action. I want to find the people responsible for this disaster and slap them around the face. I will never get that time back. Never. How is it possible to create such a banal, boring and soulless film? I could not think of a course of action that would relieve the tedium. Writing the required ten lines is incredibly difficult for such a disgraceful piece of cinema. What more can you say than reiterate how truly awful the acting is. Please avoid.

'Into every sparkly Romcom a little 'Summer Rain' must inevitably fall!'

[Weirdling_Wolf · 7/10 · 2 March 2022]

Writer/Director Jonathan Glendening's rough n' tumble indie feature was released 20 years ago, and his zesty beachside 20-something comedy has happily retained much of its boorish, roguishly comedic charm! The colourful performances from the raw young cast are quite splendid, their unfamiliarity adding an frisson of verisimilitude to the all too familiar narrative. 'Summer Rain is a playful, fun-dappled, seaside serenade to disastrous break-ups, blissful boozy nights out, saucy nights in, and far from refined bachelor cuisine! Flame-haired Michelle inopportunely chooses her 21st birthday to break up with her long-term artistically-inclined boyfriend Gary (Paul Vaughan Evans) which fatefully acts as the emotional catalyst for his increasingly desperate attempts to win back Michelle's waning affections. While far from subtle, Summer Rain is arguably at its boisterous best during the amusingly noisome exchanges of its youthful, party-hearty protagonists, with some especially toothsome badinage between angsty Michelle and her no less emotionally beleaguered flatmates Vicky (Lara Clancy) and Becky (Cath Sampson). Enticingly framed against the irresistibly solar-hazed decadence of Brighton in all its gaudy summer-singed glory, Jonathan Glendening's 'Summer Rain' remains a charmingly relatable tale for twentysomethings of all ages!'

wicked feature about the world's greatest city

[lukecairns · 8/10 · 15 April 2002]

Wow!!

I was very kindly invited to the premiere of 'Summer Rain' at the historic Duke of York's cinema in Brighton a few weeks ago and was MIGHTY impressed - its a hell of an exciting film... the cinematography is top notch and does great justice to the regency regality of Brighton and Hove. The acting in the piece is excellent with strong performances by all the lead roles - there is even a wicked cameo by Hove and Neighbours legend Mark Little!!

I would heartly recommend Summer Rain in two ways. Firstly as a great film in its own right (and a truly remarkable 1st feature) and secondly as a wonderful advert for Brighton - its shown in all its glory during the 120 mins!!

>

A pleasant surprise

[filmsploitation · 7/10 · 30 July 2023]

Was it the best film ever? No. Did it have a few issues that maybe a more experienced team could have avoided? Maybe? BUT I really enjoyed Summer Rain - likeable characters, a solid script and a good narrative that doesn't end like you might expect and some good performances.

It also looks great - shot 35mm and (in the version I saw) upgraded to 4k, it feels like a film. There's also a solid sound track also (mostly from local bands) and really does feel like a cut of the end of the 90's - clubbing, beach parties, facing new challenges and growing up.

It wont change the world but if you get a chance to see it I'd certainly recommend.

Gave me athritis

[kingcaius · 9/10 · 7 September 2018]

The tension I experienced during watching this masterpiece, was so extreme I developed rheumatoid arthritis as a result. From start to finish I was on the edge of my seat, my palms were hurting, my head was spinning, my bones were shaking, my balls were fizzing. It is probably the cleverest film, ever to have been made since Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove. Sure at first, it appears that this is some of the worst acting in the history of life, but as you slowly invest yourself fully to this magical cinematic experience, you realise it would actually be impossible to act this bad, what is actually happening, is these 'actors' aren't acting at all, they are truly living this film and the only reason it seems they are so obviously acting, is because they are so deep into character, that they have become those characters, they have become Brighton, they have become Summer Rain. Probably. In fact, it's clear that what is happening here, is a Tour de Force of such magnitude, the film has become life itself or has life become Summer Rain. Particular credit has to go to the young starlet who plays Becky. I have to admit it is a shock to me, she has not been seen in anything else since. I can only assume she gave so much to this film, that there was nothing left in the tank to give. Becky or whoever you are, we thank you. On a wider note, since watching this film, I have often tried to share my experience with others. The reception has not always been as positive as mine. In fact my lifelong best friend Archie, won't speak to me now, and if we bump into each other at various functions, he has taken to spitting at me. Well I think he is spitting at me. There have however been some positive reviews and in fact one particular group of friends found that watching Summer Rain has cured their epilepsy. Why didn't you give this film a 10, if it is so good I hear you shout. Well the bare truth is, that I just didn't feel there was enough Rain or Summer in this film, to justify the title. In fact I have previously considered legal action under the trades descriptions act, but I feel deducting a star sufficient for the time being. Also there weren't enough boobs in it for my personal liking. All that said, highly enjoyable, and whilst I now have to live a life heavily medicated and I can only walk short distances unassisted as a result of watching it, it's been worth it and I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.

loved the film

[dawngregory · 5 January 2007]

I thought the film was great fun, a film to snuggle up on the sofa with and have a good laugh. The characters were strong and quirky but realistic. I thought the photography was excellent and enjoyed watching the story unfold. The scenery was lovely and based in Sussex a very beautiful part of England. The directing was excellent and a film which i would recommend. I think Jonathan Glendening has a real future in directing films, he clearly has an eye for a story which works and the characters were fun, energetic and enthusiastic in their work. I would definitely go to see another movie by Jonathan, we need more funding in England for the very fine and up and coming movie makers of British films.

Beautifully photographed drama.

[danhill39-1 · 10/10 · 14 November 2004]

This is an assured contemporary drama from one of the UK's hottest young directors. Gary (Paul Vaughan Evans) is dumped at his girlfriend's twenty first party, much to his surprise, and attempts to win back the love of his life. A compelling coming-of-age drama unfolds as the script ranges across moments of comedy, suspense and acute self-reflection. The largely unknown cast give uniformly excellent performances. Stunningly photographed in the Brighton summer, the City has never looked so great on film. This movie is a brave riposte to all that is regrettably vapid and fundamentally faux about so much current British film-making. a a a

A Bright Vibrant Refreshing Fairy Tale

[JJ-88 · 10/10 · 13 April 2002]

The energy on display is amazing. The young cast bounce off each other and sparkle. The soundtrack by Brighton bands is wonderful and really reflects the buzz and brightness of the film. The emotion is true and recognisable for all of us. The film is also unusual because it starts with a couple splitting up, and we trace their story from that point on - will they, won't they get back together? This film enthuses about being young, British, and living life - and has one of the most upbeat endings ever - Every one can find love. A wonderful debut film from Jonathan Glendening, from the dexterity on display - he should go far! Hollywood take note.