Keeping Mum

Name: Keeping Mum
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Released: September 15, 2006
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 53
Cast: Kristin Scott Thomas, Maggie Smith, Patrick Swayze, Rowan Atkinson

2006

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 43 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	Your Score
7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 43 Ratings

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Keeping Mum

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Movie Details & Credits

THINKFilm | Release Date: September 15, 2006 | R

Starring: Kristin Scott Thomas, Maggie Smith, Patrick Swayze, Rowan Atkinson

Summary: Walter Goodfellow (Atkinson) is the well-meaning vicar of the parish of Little Wallop. So obsessed with writing the perfect sermon, he's oblivious to his wife Gloria's (Thomas) dalliance with her brash golf instructor Lance (Swayze), has trouble keeping track of his daughter Holly's parade of new boyfriends, and neglects his young sonWalter Goodfellow (Atkinson) is the well-meaning vicar of the parish of Little Wallop. So obsessed with writing the perfect sermon, he's oblivious to his wife Gloria's (Thomas) dalliance with her brash golf instructor Lance (Swayze), has trouble keeping track of his daughter Holly's parade of new boyfriends, and neglects his young son Petey. Enter the charming and discreet new housekeeper Grace (Smith), the answer to the family's prayers. Problems solved only lead to more problems created in this story of good intentions run amok. (ThinkFilm)… Expand

Director: Niall Johnson

Genre(s): Comedy, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 103 min

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Critic Reviews

Derek Elley

Rather dark, decidedly English and exceedingly well played, Keeping Mum is a neatly crafted black comedy with more than a nod in tone toward the Ealing classic "The Ladykillers." Read full review

Connie Ogle

In Keeping Mum, the writers poke gentle, broad fun at the absurdities of English country life and manners while creating a cozy malevolence that's all the more engaging because it lies so far from reality. We know we mustn't murder our loathsome neighbors. But how much fun it is to imagine that we might. Read full review

William Arnold

The script (by Richard Russo) is solid, the performances are witty and fun, and the movie is a most agreeable way to spend an hour and a half. Read full review

Nathan Rabin

Keeping Mum never really gets going, and it inches to the finish line like a narcoleptic turtle. Read full review

Desson Thomson

A British black comedy, saves its best for last -- and God bless Maggie Smith for, well, being Maggie Smith -- but that requires sitting through a frustrating, uneven hour of sluggish preamble. Read full review

Kate Taylor

Black comedy often asks viewers, in exchange for the hilarity, to suspend their moral objections along with their disbelief...Here, we keep our part of the bargain only to be cheated of our payoff. Read full review

Michael Sragow

The movie is a premise in search of a comedy. Rather than flesh it out, the filmmakers put familiar glad rags on the skull and bones. Read full review

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User Reviews

JayH.

Apr 7, 2007

With a script by Ruchard Russo, and a cast headed by Maggie Smith, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Rowan Atkinson, this flick has impeccable bloodlines. And it doesn't disappoint. It's delightfully droll from beginning to end.

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MylesS

Jul 27, 2007

A very surprising flick, 'Keeping Mum' was full of the dark, dry humor for which the Brits are known. Simply put, the movie is well done and a lot of fun to watch.

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Kai82

Sep 10, 2014

A really black and entertaining comedy. Great acting performance especially from Maggie Smith, Patrick Swayze (Side character) and Tasmin Egerton. If you like humor very black / british than this is a must see movie. You will not stop laughing for a wile and that is the only thing that matters.

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VeraR.

Feb 27, 2007

Excellent movie, great cast, great actors! Loved the opening scene! I love British humour! Which movie were the critics watching with their 53!

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FilmVirtue

May 26, 2014

Keeping Mum shows Atkinson's brilliant (Yet strange) acting style that forms together with other talented actors to create an entertaining dark comedy that never strays away from the story and intertwines with the lives of everyone around.

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AshutoshR.

Sep 17, 2006

Keeping mum is a very ordinary and straight forward comedy movie . And what is more disappointing about this movie is that this is a Brit production . The Brits have certainly lowered their standards.

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DawdlingPoet

Nov 28, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie features quite dark humour, its a case of discovering whats behind the image of the seemingly idyllic, quaint little English town, more specifically the Goodfellows - some of the scenes involving the wife, Gloria and her affair with the American golf instructor Lance are rather cringeworthy - its perhaps worth pointing out that he's played by the late Patrick Swayze and in this movie he plays the role of a rather rugged, suave type who is far from shy of making a saucy pun or double entendre or two.

I felt again like this movie was decent enough overall, there are some rather amusing scenes and the story is fairly intriguing, the ending is even kind of touching but in the middle I felt that it lagged a bit too long. The story is quite shocking to start with, when it cuts to present day you wonder how it can relate to what seems like a rather run of the mill rural setting. The story was interesting enough until probably about 45 minutes into the movie, so roughly half way through but I felt that it just dragged a bit too much at that time, to the extent that I was feeling a bit frustrated, waiting to see what the twist would be (that I presumed was coming), where the real punchline lay and I found myself feeling a bit distracted as the movie stumbled on somewhat, focussing on Walter preparing and giving his speech entitled 'God works in mysterious ways' (of course there is irony in what he says, given what we know is going on with his family back at home). The movie isn't without its humour or entertainment but its not one that's going to appeal to everyone - it will depend on your sense of humour and taste in movies what you make of this really, I reckon. I'd say that Atkinson is well chosen to portray the bumbling vicar, reverand Walter and he does bring some comedy to his role, although the majority of the comedy comes from Gloria and her 'extra marital activities', with the mysterious Grace Hawkins being the black sheep in the family for a while, keeping a closer eye on the 'goings ons' than may be first thought. Maggie Smith does give a very solid performance as Grace, fans of hers shouldn't be disappointed.

I liked how the story picked up again towards the end of the movie, it is quite dry, humour wise. I suppose it has a bit of what may be called the classic British comedy build up to the story, its fairly slow and meandering but then the situations start to become rather preposterous and it gathers pace. I felt that at the end, your still not sure entirely what happened, or I felt that way anyway, although I think thats part of the wry humour - I won't give away what the ending scene is though, as that would obviously spoil the movie. By way of comparison, I'd say that this is a bit like a feature length episode of The Vicar of Dibley, with one or two blind sided parishioners and the vicar being a bit dizzy too. Its fairly watchable with some funny aspects, the story is a bit peculiar and its certainly quite 'British' in my mind - some people will enjoy this more than others, there are some big names present such as obviously Maggie Smith as Grace (I'd say that she gave the best performance, playing the well informed newcomer to the family well), Rowan Atkinson as Walter (funny when I hear the name Walter it always makes me think of Dennis the Menace...lol) and Patrick Swayze as Lance and generally its ok, its quite quirky and amusing although I felt it was a real shame that the story stumbled/lagged so half way through. I also felt that the ending was a little unclear... overall if you like dry and witty British movies and the story appeals, you may enjoy this, although I can't help but feel like it could have been a bit 'sharper' somehow...perhaps this isn't quite 'my bag' (or my type of movie) though...

I think that this will, as with the majority of movies, appeal to some people more than others. I thought the story was interesting at the start and as it gathered pace at the end but I definitely felt that it dragged a bit too long mid way and I felt myself feeling distracted which is never a good sign as such, though the cast is good and I can't specifically fault performances, its ok but not great. Also there is some strong language and sexual references, so if your thinking of watching this with a young family or even with other teens, that would probably make for some uncomfortable viewing, so count yourself warned in that regard. If your a fan of Maggie Smith, I'd recommend it as being worth a watch though...so overall I think I'm stuck having to opt for 'undecided' aka it depends - I probably wouldn't tend to recommend this unless its shown on TV or you can rent it for free or some-such, generally but I think that some people may find it funnier or may enjoy the irony more than I did.… Expand

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