Grow Review – A Refined Pumpkin Growing Caper Brimming with Perky Charm and Comedic Talent
This upbeat UK family movie features five different writers listed with the script, including two who provided “additional material”. This could explain why the story beats progress with such metronomic precision, while the personalities seem as though they were cultivated in a controlled environment. Paradoxically, the backdrop is a homestead farm where agronomist-owner Dinah decides to go organic after being inspired by her magical niece Charlie, who feels the feelings of plants through touch.
A Growing Bond and a Contest-Winning Gourd
Having only recently met, for motives the otherwise polished script doesn't clarify, Charlie and Dinah bond with one another over several seasons – which coincides with the duration needed to grow a pumpkin for the local yearly contest. Charlie aims to utilize the award cash to locate her mom, said to have left for pursue stardom in the US.
The ensemble cast is filled with charming comic performances by veteran British actors.
Star-Studded Appearances and Antagonistic Foes
The mother character later emerges played by a familiar face, similar to Rosheuvel, comes from in popular series. Moreover, the cast includes a quirky horticulturist played by Nick Frost, who provides advice on growing pumpkins for the duo. Meanwhile, Jane Horrocks and Tim McInnerny depict the Smythe-Gherkins, the villainous upper-class neighbors determined to win the contest for glory alone since they don’t need the cash prize.
- Nick Frost shines in the role of a bohemian gardener.
- The antagonists bring humorous conflict as affluent competitors.
- The youthful Dominic McLaughlin plays Charlie’s school friend Oliver.
Youthful Talent and Filmmaking Style
While his Scottish tone appears a bit random in this context, his subtle performance and humor sense are so skillful it’s expected he has been cast for a major role in a future show. Director John McPhail keeps a lighthearted humorous vibe and stays unobtrusive with what is meant to serve as evening family fun during a particular time of year.
