Nasty Neighbours (2000)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Debbie Isitt

Writers:

Debbie Isitt (play)
Debbie Isitt (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 October 2000 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Based On Play

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Ricky Tomlinson	...	Harold Peach
Marion Bailey	...	Jean Peach
Phil Daniels	...	Robert Chapman
Rachel Fielding	...	Ellen Chapman
Hywel Bennett	...	The Boss
Dawn Butler	...	Travel Agent
Nick Whitfield	...	Estate Agent
Gordon Coulson	...	Stan
Freda Barratt	...	Mrs. Haygarth
Agnes O'Dwyer	...	Woman Mourner
Geoff Dixon	...	Postman
Merlyn Rice	...	Babysitter
Catrina McHugh	...	Mother in Doorway
Vinnie McHugh	...	Child in Doorway
Kenneth Hadley	...	Bank Manager

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color | Black and White

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15

Company:

Ipso Facto Films

Has its moments but is far too inconsistent in plot and delivery, wasting some very good work from Tomlinson

Harold and Jean Peach have enjoyed a quiet life in their cul-de-sac for years and now miss their neighbours, the Hodges, who have recently emigrated to spend their retirement in Australia. Harold's job as a double-glazing salesman isn't going that well and he is hiding money trouble from Jean. When their new neighbours move in, the Peaches are a little upset that the Chapman's are not quiet as friendly as the Hodges. Harold can't help but stick his nose in but when his "friendly" instructions about wheelie bins and car parking are met with responses like "b0ll0cks" it starts a tension between the two houses that neither Harold or Robert are willing to defuse.

Partially filmed around where I live in Birmingham, this film is a nice look at tensions between two neighbours who just don't get on. At its heart it is a really good character driven story with the focus being as much on the breakdown of the Peaches as it is about the petty disputes between neighbours. On this level it starts out interesting and does have good touches but it is just too inconsistent to really convince. The plot goes to extremes and it lost me as it did so; the well-observed parts of the characters were lost as they become overblown and unconvincing. Likewise the tone of the piece is all over the place – at times it seems detailed and focused, while other times it is aiming for more of a comic "feuding neighbours" feel'. It doesn't really jump around scene to scene but it doesn't stick withone direction for long enough to really do it well. It is a shame because some of the finer character stuff is interesting but Isitt's script doesn't do it consistently.

Despite this Tomlinson gives his all although I'm sure, having just delivered a touching scene one day he must have worried how it would play out when the next day of shooting sees him dressed as a British soldier on the roof of his house. He is at his best when asked to deliver a frustrated little man, it is just a shame the film did not help him do this. Bailey has moments where she is as good but her character is not as well written. Daniels is given an overcooked character (did he need to be so unpleasant to make the script work?) and delivers it so; he works but I thought he could have been given more to work with. Fielding is reasonably good but, as with Daniels, her character is a plot device and not as important to the script in other ways.

Overall this is an OK film but one that frustrates by its inconsistency. At times it is a great little character story with Harold at its core but then the next scene just seems to throw it a way in favour of overblown plotting that is unconvincing and unhelpful. Isitt must shoulder most of the blame because the script doesn't do the job and her direction can't achieve one consistent feel. An interesting film on some levels but ultimately not one that you need to ask why it has been seen by very few people.