And Mrs

There is such an abundance of terrible films lately. Either no story to speak of, or an ok idea but executed extremely poorly. Most of them feel like money laundering schemes instead of films.

But every now and then, there is still one that gives me hope, and shows that some people still know how movies should be made.

I enjoyed And Mrs from start to finish, I shed some tears, got angry, and laughed very hard. The story, as simple as it was, kept me engaged, the humour was alive and mostly adorable, and Aisling Bea felt very genuine, carrying the movie with ease.

Was it a perfect movie? Not by a long shot. There's a long list of movies that I love with a passion and think they are better than this one. Not every movie needs to be The Shawshank Redemption or Steel Magnolias. This one, I probably would not watch every weekend, but I sure had fun watching it once, and probably would give it another go some time later.

I hope this film gets the audience and recognition it deserves as an instant classic.

It deals with death and grief but manages to be a genuinely hilarious film all the way through - while never cheapening or avoiding the subject.

When I was a child grieving the loss of my dad, there was a period of time when I felt a stab of guilt for laughing at a joke, as though it was a betrayal of the sadness I felt. Now that I'm older I know that's not right, but I think there is still something 'taboo' about combining the subjects of grief and humour, despite how intertwined they actually are.

Grief creates a sombre background which serves to amplify the absurd. Death is personally shocking, but also everyday and mundane. These contrasts are handled so skilfully in this film.

The star-studded cast? Outstanding - standing ovation to whoever did the casting on this film. What a cast list!! Many had fairly small but very impactful and memorable roles.

Aisling Bea was perfect in the lead role, flawless performance. Billie Lourd and Elizabeth McGovern were fantastic. Loved Sinéad Cusack and Peter Egan as the parents.

The double act of Harriet Walter and Samuel Barnett- I would watch a whole series with these two in the lead (spin-off when?) Loved all of their scenes, absolutely hilarious.

I loved the way this film was directed, especially in the moments where Aisling's character Gemma is completely overwhelmed. It resonated and I've never seen it portrayed in such an accurate way before.

One of those satisfying British films that makes the whole thing look effortless and natural - 10/10.

A very modern romcom drama tragedy hybrid kinda film with some funny moments and watchable enough but without ever hitting the heights. The writing is ok, the story of a bereaved girlfriend wanting to still go through with the marriage to her recently dearly departed is novel enough and the cast is in the main decent but it just doesn't come together as a whole. It flits between comedy and drama but the transitions are a bit jarring, the chemistry between the characters isn't there and you just don't care enough to engage with them nor the story. It isn't terrible and as said it's worth a watch, but it feels like it's trying to be a Richard Curtis style film and to be honest, it falls a long way short...

"And Mrs." is dedicated to the grievers and the grieving. So from someone who grieves, "Thank you, everyone, who worked on this movie!" One of the characters says in the film that love is eternal. This is so true. People's spirits are with us long after those people have passed on. May we always treasure the love people have given us. I also especially appreciated the writing, the integrity of the characters, and the humour. Didn't hurt to have an American TV love song at the center of the movie (that is, the Partridge Family's "I Think I Love You"). Wonderful to see one of Tom Hanks' sons and Carrie Fisher's daughter in action. (If a fan of Fisher, I recommend reading Billie Lourd's quotes, particularly the one where she says she had 3 parents). And remember on Trivia Night: no googling the answers!

It's been a while since I've seen a film at the movies that had that classic blend of humor and drama, striking a perfect balance between heartfelt moments and lighthearted comedy. The characters felt so genuine, their emotions raw and relatable, which made it easy to get completely invested in their journeys. There were times when the tension or sorrow of a scene had me on the edge of my seat, really feeling for what they were going through, and then, just when it felt like the emotions were about to peak, a burst of humor would land and lighten the mood. Some of those comedic moments were so well-timed, I found myself cackling a bit too loud, unable to hold back my laughter. It reminded me of how films can take us through a rollercoaster of emotions, leaving you both touched and entertained by the time the credits roll.