Seen: March 8th, 2007
Format: DVD
Rating: 6
There's something surreal about seeing Patrick Swayze and Rowan Atkinson sharing a quiet scene.
Keeping Mum is a basically a twisted Mary Poppins tale gone awry. Yes, both. Twisted and gone awry. It's a classic little British comedy where an aging housekeeper come to live with a vicar and his family. Exposition happens quickly and we're soon fielding pregnant moments with the full realization of what will go wrong. Sure enough, it does, and the chuckles are as much ones of self-satisfaction and conspiracy as actual humor.
The story is simple. The characters aren't complex either. Their arcs are shallow, but far from trivial. The whole matter ambles along until it's finished with a small, but thoroughly appropriate, twist at the end. It's a bit like warm milk before bed; it leaves with a contented feeling settling somewhere in your abdomen and a simple smile on your face of which you're not consciously aware. I've just realized I have one now.
The cast is mostly brilliant. Dame Maggie Smith is a personal favorite, and she's well cast against type here. Her timing is impeccable and delivery straightforward and sincere, which is why this dark comedy works. Rowan Atkinson is uncharacteristically restrained. While he does have one major Bean-ish moment, for the most part he also is sincere, if a bit ... middle-aged. Kirsten Scott Thomas is well cast also. Her quiet exasperation, guilt and despair is again, thoroughly British and appropriate. Patrick Swayze is the sore thumb here, as he should be. His character, an American golf professional, is as incongruous as he amongst the cast, causing two wrongs to make a right, despite all the religious implications.
A little dark, a little twisted, but basically harmless fun to rest your mind and smile.
The Good: Classic British dark humor with some great casting.
The Bad: Stereotypical American bad guy and some flimsy premises.
The Ugly: Blue-Green algae.
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