Richard E Grant cashes in some favours and assembles a top-notch cast of luvvies. Julie Walters, Emily Watson, Celia Imrie and Miranda Richardson were all very strong in their roles (although Miranda occasionally reminded me too much of the stressed mum she played in an episode of AbFab).
Unfortunately the male cast members were nowhere near as good (I was SO glad when the younger Ralphie was sent packing). I also found the family drama element to be poorly written, especially at the beginning, which was almost unwatchable.
At points the script and camera were amateurish and unoriginal. There was far too much use of cloying music as a counterpoint to the tiresome proceedings (Dad slams door, boy flinches and strings swell, etc). Most of the time you have no clue why these people are in the relationships they are in, especially Ruby and the girl Ralphie has a crush on.
Perhaps it was a reflection on colonial perceptions at the time, but aside from the singing gardener and the local doctor all the Africans do nothing but smile or run around with spears.
The colonial bickering and the preparations for the royal visit were far more entertaining. If only this had been an ensemble piece looking at the lives of the colonials in the dying days of the Empire, with none of the dreary family squabbles!
Unfortunately the male cast members were nowhere near as good (I was SO glad when the younger Ralphie was sent packing). I also found the family drama element to be poorly written, especially at the beginning, which was almost unwatchable.
At points the script and camera were amateurish and unoriginal. There was far too much use of cloying music as a counterpoint to the tiresome proceedings (Dad slams door, boy flinches and strings swell, etc). Most of the time you have no clue why these people are in the relationships they are in, especially Ruby and the girl Ralphie has a crush on.
Perhaps it was a reflection on colonial perceptions at the time, but aside from the singing gardener and the local doctor all the Africans do nothing but smile or run around with spears.
The colonial bickering and the preparations for the royal visit were far more entertaining. If only this had been an ensemble piece looking at the lives of the colonials in the dying days of the Empire, with none of the dreary family squabbles!