Miss in Her Teens

I wasn't sure I was going to like this. I had been on a film festival jury and seen another film by the same filmmakers, Two Down, which was outstanding, but this looked like the kind of British film I really don't enjoy, but my wife insisted we watch it, loving anything from the UK.

But it was excellent. Funny, quite odd, but very well acted and made. It has problems but they do amazing things with a modest budget and interesting to see that this was their first film and how much they had progressed from Miss in Her Teens to Two Down.

It is quite unlike any film I've seen before and one I can't stop thinking about, which prompted me to write this. It really does need to be seen by more people and appreciated for it's unique British comedy and charm. And some of those hilarious performances will stay with me for a while!

This movie was beyond anything I'd imagined it to be. I had heard some great stuff about it and decided to watch it and I'm so glad I did. Kids will have fun watching this movie and learn valuable morals. Adults, on the other hand, will immensely enjoy watching this movie, will appreciate it for what it truly is and will understand its real meaning. This movie is just absolutely amazing, the best I've seen all year! Please watch it, you will not be disappointed.

I've been looking forward to seeing this for some time now and was not disappointed. I know the play well and wondered how they would approach the story given that 18th century plots could be tricky yet simple at the same time. I was pleased to see that they managed to stick very closely to the original but still creating a cinematic delight. No easy task with the original text! But the film flew by and I never felt they had 'dumbed it down' for the movie folk, but made it accessible for all.

It's simply done, but they have mined all their skills to get everything they can out of the material. Very accomplished storytelling and outstanding performances from everyone of the actors.

If you want good clean fun, this is the film for you. It certainly was for my family!

I really love the movie. The fact is that it takes time to discover anything about the plot not a problem for me, but it was clear to many. If you can just keep asking questions until the end of the movie then this is for you. The plot is really engaging and unique. For me, it was a great comedy and it did a perfect job of blowing up the laughter. Easily one of my favorite movies of all time, and the best movies of recent years!

I sought out this film because it was in competition with a film I featured in in a film festival and it was very hard to track down. I eventually found a region free copy on Amazon or Ebay, I forget which. This illustrates how few people would have got to see this since its release and that, I think, is a shame. True, it won't be to everyone's taste, its low budget origins are apparent and some of the acting is ripe in tone but as a Georgian farce, that is understandable and forgivable and as a first time feature, commendably brave. At just one hour and 10 minutes it is brief and for that running time, rattles along at a terrific pace. The plot is simple, Biddy Belair, the teen miss of the title (And I know this is David Garrick's original title but it does, unfortunately, give the idea of rather dodgier fare!) is in love with a dashing young captain but is also paid suit to by a poltroon, a ridiculous fop and an old man. No prizes for guessing how it turns out. The cast boasts some name actors in Ian McKellen, Simon Callow and Carol Royle (of BBC's Life Without George fame) but they have little to do besides add a bit of marquee value, McKellen and Callow bookend the piece as an unseen prologue narrator and the author as an epilogue respectively. Royle has a little more to do as an aunt who stands in the way of true love. Nevertheless it is impressive that the nascent director and producer team of Matthew Butler and Tori Hart have the muscle and negotiation skills to get the aforementioned actors on board. The strongest performances of the film are to be found in Hart's delightful Biddy Belair, flitting effortlessly between wide eyed Innocence and a delicious impish pleasure in mischief and Gil Sutherland's old rogue of a lech, Sir Simon Loveit. I Also admired director Butler's use of small part players, allowing them moments to shine (Ben Lee's drunken servant comes to mind). Agreeable support amongst others, comes from Adam Alexander as Biddy's real love interest and John Fitzpatrick as a typically wise, comic confidant/servant. So all in all, this film does betray its low budget and theatrical origins but has some wonderful exteriors and interiors and is a wonderfully jolly, Georgian romp with Butler's sure but light hand on the tiller. Well worth a watch!