Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Sidney James | ... | Sid Abbot | |
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Diana Coupland | ... | Jean Abbot |
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Sally Geeson | ... | Sally Abbot |
Peter Butterworth | ... | Trevor Lewis | |
Terry Scott | ... | Ronald Baines | |
June Whitfield | ... | Vera Baines | |
Robin Askwith | ... | Mike Abbot | |
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Carol Hawkins | ... | Kate Baines |
Patsy Rowlands | ... | Betty Lewis | |
George A. Cooper | ... | Mr Wilson | |
Bill Maynard | ... | Oldham | |
Marianne Stone | ... | Muriel | |
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Janet Brown | ... | Annie Hobbs |
Julian Orchard | ... | Tom Hobbs | |
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Tommy Godfrey | ... | Alf Murray |
1970s English suburbia: middle-aged homeowner Sid Abbot just wants to get on with building his illegal whisky still, but is frustrated by his workshy son, and otherworldly daughter. Then the rude and arrogant Ronald Baines and his family move in next door. Garden-fence hostilities soon commence. Written by Simon Shearn <simon@frieth.demon.co.uk>
From what I have seen of the TV series, it is a very enjoyable one that is funny and relaxing to watch. This spin off movie is not too bad, but it is nothing exceptional.
The good things: It is nicely filmed, the cinematography is very nice and the scenery lush, and the music is beautiful, it has a nice whimsical feel to it. The costumes are also nice to look at, by today's standards perhaps the fashion may be outdated and perhaps naff but in a glorious way. The best thing though is the casting. Sidney James, who I have loved since the Carry On franchise(which I admit I still enjoy), is incomparable as Sid. He just has a warm and fun presence whenever he is on screen as the grouchy father, and it is this presence that saves the film. The remainder of the cast are good too, Sally Geeson is rather so-so in the acting department, though it was nice to see her in a bikini, but Peter Butterworth, Wendy Richard, Diana Coupland and June Whitfield are great value.
The not so good things: The film does feel a little too short, at only 85 or so minutes. If it was made 5 minutes longer, some scenes could have been expanded on. The script does have some funny exchanges such as "Has his steering gone?" "I don't know whether it is his steering, or him!", but some of the material doesn't quite make the most of the running time. The humour here is amusing but nothing quotable or side-splittingly funny, and there were times when the slapstick was a little too much.
Overall, not bad, but unexceptional. 7/10 Bethany Cox