Mum’s the Word

In September we will mark the seventh anniversary of the death of Patrick Swayze. Becoming a powerhouse star of the 1980’s and 1990’s with classics such as Dirty Dancing, Ghost, Road House, Point Break, among others, the man left an indelible impact on the film industry. So, as a tribute here today, I am going to write about one of his last movie roles that can be found in the small, rarely seen 2005 British comedy Keeping Mum.

Directed by Niall Johnson, the story follows a married reverend, Walter Goodfellow, played masterfully by Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean), his wife Gloria, Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient), and their two children, as their lives become more and more impacted by their new housekeeper Grace, the endearing Dame Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagall from the Harry Potter franchise). Grace continuously assists the family in solving their problems; from minor issues such as quieting the barking dog next door, to more serious things such as helping the Goodfellow’s son deal with bullies. Her continual success is hindered by only one small problem – she is a murderer!

One of the larger themes running its course throughout the film is that Gloria is unhappy in her marriage to her rather boring and staid husband, who seems mostly interested in writing the perfect sermon as well as managing the day to day affairs of his parish. He must also contend with his nosey and meddlesome parishioners, who are always infringing on his time. Enter Patrick Swayze – a sleazy golf instructor named Lance who is more interested in bedding the reverend’s lonely wife than doing his job. To complicate things further, he is attempting to convince Gloria to run off with him.

As for the movie, it is a beautifully written gem that is comedic in a macabre way that only the British can do so well. Aside from the dark humour, there are moments of genuine sincerity found within the spiritual background as well as the romantic storyline between Walter and Gloria, which adds to the depth of the motion picture. And in spite of Grace’s unorthodox touch, she manages to nourish and breathe life into the family in a surprisingly loving way. She enables the whole family to grow, including the two children: the sexually adventurous teenager Holly, played by Tamsin Egerton (TV series Camelot) and the bullied Petey (Toby Parkes).

I would be remiss if I did not mention the setting. The clustered and quaint English village of Little Wallop is the perfect backdrop for this story, providing the viewer with a voyeuristically intimate vantage point as the plot thickens. The town serves to accentuate the storyline: its winding roads, snoopy and tiresome neighbours, barking dog, alga in the pond and other such simple things drive the plot line forward, adding to the mystery and suspense. This movie spoofs the idealistic little English village that always appears to be so pretty, sleepy, and utterly perfect. Writers Richard Russo and Niall Johnson do an excellent job turning this enchanting setting upside down in a delightfully subtle and naughty way. For another taste of a satirical twist on the idyllic English village setting, see 2007’s Hot Fuzz.

Also, this motion picture displays how important good casting is. The performances in Keeping Mum are brilliant. It is refreshing to see Rowan Atkinson in a role that is not like that of Mr. Bean or Johnny English. He plays the character of the oblivious reverend, who is finally enlightened by his clever and moving homily (with a little help from Grace), to perfection. He still employs the bumbling comedic aspects of his more well known personas in this film, but he also shows us that he has some excellent range as a dramatic actor. Kristin Scott Thomas is superb as the sexually frustrated housewife who struggles with her issues. Maggie Smith is surprisingly loveable as the misguided yet helpful housekeeper/felon. Her delivery of lines is superbly sly and wickedly witty. It is a treat to watch how she nurtures the entire family through their wide array of problems. Tamsin Egerton is excellent in her first film role. She captures the essence of the promiscuous teen and shows why she has carved out a promising career in the UK. Finally, Patrick Swayze is simply classic. He is both creepy and hilarious at the same time. It is one of his funniest roles and deserves to be seen along with some of his other great films. This character, in particular, allows him to be a scene stealer.

In the end, if you are in the mood to watch a cleverly written, twisted comedy and pay tribute to a great actor who passed away much too soon, keep your eye on Keeping Mum. It’s gravely funny.