Posy Simmonds graphic novel Tamara Drewe has been turned into an entertaining Comedy/Drama by director Stephen Frears. Frears has brought together a cast of up and coming talent and put them alongside veteran character actors and got them all spot on. Gemma Atherton is the perfect choice the play the films heroine Tamara. Gemma plays a beautiful journalist who returns to her childhood home and causes nothing but chaos. Tamara used to be the villages ugly duckling who, while always confident, still had some insecurities about herself. Namely her nose. After returning to the little village in Dorset with a new nose and a new found confidence Tamara receives plenty of attention from 3 men who are all vying for her affection- Andy Cobb (Luke Evans), Ben Sergeant (Dominic Cooper) and Nicholas Hardiment (Roger Allan).
Nicholas is a philandering author who's long suffering wife, played brilliantly by Tamin Greig, channels her frustrations by running a retreat for writers and baking cakes. Also two bored schoolgirls (Jessica Barden and Charlotte Casey) watch all the trouble that's occurring in the village, even playing a hand in stirring up more trouble with their meddling. It's true what people say, don't mess with a 15 year old girl. Dominic Cooper and Luke Evans also give decent performances without neccsarily stretching themselves.
It would be interesting to know if Dominic Cooper is actully that good at playing the drums.
The graphic novel was first serialised in The Guardian, but has been moved to a more modern era for the film. Some of the characters can come across as a bit cartoony but this shouldn't disturb your enjoyment of the film. It's also quite refreshing to see a British film that isn't about gangsters, hoodies, aliens or all 3 at once.
Stephen Frears has made a intelligently funny film that is also touching and has a cracking cast that won't fail to make you smile.
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