Armand
a book. a writer confession about his golden age. and an inspired adaptation. that is all. at first sigh. because , like a dish, in this case, the taste, the flavor, the delicious atmosphere has few little secret ingredients. first - the script who explore the Durell universe with gentle and wise precision. than, the cast and for this slice must see the movie for understand. than - the music. the spice remains British humor but that is the great and magnificent virtue because its rhythm is always the same. the joy, adventure, spirit, curiosity of childhood is on front chair. the craziness, the eccentricity, egotism, strange situations are cages for each kind of public. but something must be more important - the extraordinary performance of two actors as cinnamon of this splendid pie - Eugene Simon and, sure, great Imelda Staunton. it is not really a movie. only perfect bottle for pure form of joy.
donflo-2
A favourite story of mine for very many years this translation into a TV movie is sensitively and accurately adapted, much of the dialogue is exactly as Gerald Durrell wrote it. If only the TV writers, producers, directors would do as well with so many other sadly failing efforts! The actors in this are very well chosen and give faithful and often understated performances. In particular the lad playing Gerald is very good indeed, but I only single him out from a splendid ensemble effort because of his youth. If I had to make a criticism it would be that the character of Spiro was somewhat more restrained than I had envisaged from the book. All in all, a little gem. It was screened by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Sunday 8th. April 2007.
horrorfilmx
I caught this movie on PBS at four in the morning and was hooked for the next two hours. It's a funny, original story beautifully shot (one assumes on location in Greece). The focus of the film is on the youngest member of an eccentric British family and his absorbing interest in nature, but the rest of his clan all have their own unique quirks. It's a little bit like James Herriot by way of ALICE IN WONDERLAND. But what impressed me most of all was the assured direction. It jumps from character to character and incident to incident, all vastly amusing, without ever becoming boring or wasting a frame. It makes me want to hunt down the TV series or go read the books. By all means catch this if you ever have a chance.
sugarcult_x
This is a really special piece of classic British comedy, know one does comedy like the Brits! Gerald Durrel's wacky family are vividly captured in this period drama, about a family who are so different, but still are the perfect English family. I watched this drama expecting it to be another cheap shot at an unmemorable attempt in the 1980's, but this is really the sort of thing you should watch on a cold winters day, with a mug of hot choc and curl on your sofa, and relax. Its a feel good film, full of laughs and hilarious family 'in jokes', which every family has. Plus the animals that Gerry collects are just so cute. Perfect cast, who all seem to slip into their individual roles easily and comfortably - laughs all the way, topped off by Mrs Staunton (Vera Drake), who leads the family as the mother. Fan-bloody-tastic! Watch it, or miss out!
AD
