10s Movie Review - What We Did On Our Holiday

Director: Andy Hamilton, Guy Jenkin
Genre: Comedy/ Dram
Runtime: 95 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: David Tennant, Rosamund Pike, Billy Connelly, Ben Miller, Emilia Jones, Bobby Smalldridge, Harriet Turnbull, Amelia Bullmore, Celia Imre

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 29: A MOVIE SET IN THE SUMMER
 
Description: A family of five heads to Granddad’s nig 75^th-birthday party at an uncle’s estate in rural Scotland. The parents (Rosamund Pike, David Tennant) are separated and hope their three kids won’t mention it. The kids love, can talk with, and would do anything for Granddad.

Review: The marriage of Doug and Abi is on the verge of collapsing. But they have to keep it a secret for Doug’s dad Gordie, who is sick and might not have that long to live. That’s more difficult than it sounds, because Doug and Abi are visiting Gordie for his 75^th birthday in Scotland and are taking their three young children with them. And they need to keep the secret too.

I didn’t know much about this film, but it pleasantly surprised me. It takes some time to get going, but once we’re in the story it is such a fun film. The script is fresh and the setting is gorgeous.

Rosamune Pike, David Tennant and Billy Connolly are the big names, but it’s the three kids that steal the show. Such heartwarming and endearing performances by all three, especially in combination with Connolly, who is their granddad.

A good tragic-comedic film, perfect length and endearing roles for three talented children.

Rating: 4 / 5

Top 5 Thursday: Movies I Watched for My Challenge (April 2017)

Here are my five favorite films that I watched for my challenge in the month of April.

5. Love & Mercy
I never thought I would love this movie, simply because I was surprised by the complexity of Brian Wilson’s story. And John Cusack proofs again why he is one of my favorite actors. This is such a great performance.

4. Get Out
This is definitely going to be one of the best movies of 2017. It’s a horror movie that can’t be put in a box. It’s original, surprising, disturbing, creepy. You can’t compare it to anything else out there. And come to think that it was directed by a comedy man.

3. What We Did On Our Holiday
I never heard of this film before I saw it. It is so funny and heartfelt. An indie film that flew under the radar and a film that more people need to see.

2. Coraline
I love stop-motion films and “Coraline” is definitely one of the best out there. It’s dark, but something for children to relate to. Really beautiful.

1. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
I simply knew I was going to love this sequel. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is the most fun you will have at the movies: humor, action, adventure, great characters. I definitely didn’t disappoint.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Sufragette, The Light Between Oceans, The Accountant, Beauty and the Beast

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 57: What We Did On Our Holiday

Director: Andy Hamilton, Guy Jenkin
Genre: Comedy/ Drama
Runtime: 95 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: Rosamund Pike, David Tennant, Billy Connolly, Ben Miller, Celia Imrie, Amelia Bullmore, Bobby Smalldridge, Harriet Turnbull, Annette Crosbie, Lewis Davie, Ralph Riach, Ron Donachie

Description: Doug and Abi (David Tennant, Rosamund Pike) take their kids on a family vacation. Surrounded by relatives, the kids innocently reveal the ins and outs of their family life and many intimate details about their parents. It's soon clear that when it comes to keeping a big secret under wraps from the rest of the family, their children are their biggest liability... Find out how the rest of the family cope and see if the holiday will ever end.

Review: Gordie McLeod doesn’t hide that he has terminal cancer. His grandchildren aren’t supposed to know, but Gordie thinks they are old and wise enough to know the truth. These moral opposition are the most important theme of the film. “What We Did On Our Holiday” is a loveable family comedy, sort of the British answer to the American Indie “Little Miss Sunshine”. A dysfunctional family always works in a film.
Gordie is waiting for his death in Scotland. His two sons want to throw him a big 75th birthday party. With their wives and children, they travel to see him. But both sons have some troubles at home their selves.
It doesn’t sound like a comedy, but the jokes are perfect. And the fact that this dark theme doesn’t overshadow it all, is because we see it all through the eyes Doug and Abi’s kids. This is British comedy mixed with a little drama, the way I love it. The moral is not shoved in your face and the humor is sharp and not too subtle.
David Tennant, Rosamund Pike and Billy Connolly are all amazing. But it’s probably the three kids that steal the show.
I had never heard of this film before I saw it and that’s such a shame. This means that a lot of people won’t see it. Please, if you love Indie films and British humor, check out “What We Did On Our Holiday”. It’s a hidden gem.

Rating: 5/ 5