For the first hour, I thought this was the best British comedy of the decade; then it nose-dived. Much hinges on the talent of Horrocks, whose imitations are sufficiently close to merit much applause, and whose repressed performance deserves credit. Michael Caine fits into his role as if into a glove, and Ewan MacGregor was surprisingly persuasive (especially considering he can command much bigger parts than this). Blethyn was over the top (although it wasn't wholly her fault, given the way the part is written), and some of the humour relied too much on crass jokes.
Unfortunately, once Cartwright has set up LV he has to make her take the inevitable tumble, and does so in a very heavy-handed way. The intercutting of Caine's awful singing with the house fire was a clumsy, aggressive and hysterical sequence, and nearly ruined the film for me. Once this was over, there was little left for any character to do, and the film petered out into a rushed and cliched conclusion.
7 out of 10, then, for that hilarious and warm first hour, and because of Horrocks. About time she made it big.
Unfortunately, once Cartwright has set up LV he has to make her take the inevitable tumble, and does so in a very heavy-handed way. The intercutting of Caine's awful singing with the house fire was a clumsy, aggressive and hysterical sequence, and nearly ruined the film for me. Once this was over, there was little left for any character to do, and the film petered out into a rushed and cliched conclusion.
7 out of 10, then, for that hilarious and warm first hour, and because of Horrocks. About time she made it big.