The Amazing Mr Blunden

Very disappointing remake of a classic children's film. Don't waste your time, just check out the original. An classic ghost story has been robbed of it's atmosphere. A lightweight version with comic book characters.

As a child of the 1960's, the original film was like many a part of my childhood. Unfortunately, the remake is a pale shadow of the original.

Its puzzling to have seen ratings for the remake giving 10's and 8's - even the greatest Hollywood films in history never scored 10's.

I am a huge fan of Mark Gatiss and I've been following his career since The League of Gentlemen. I loved Sherlock, his Dr Who work, and even his Dracula was interesting.

Unfortunately, this is a real misstep. Unlike some reviews, I don't have a problem with the colour blind casting. Nor do I mind the present day setting, although I felt the 200 years time shift too much. My issues are it's just badly paced and poorly directed.

The original had the luxury of setting the back story much better, particularly regarding the Wickens. Instead, we get some serious exposition by means of a puppet show. The whole thing is just too rushed. We know barely anything about Thomas, and it's obvious from our first meeting what the true nature of Mr Blunden is. Maybe this was all done make it more accessible to younger viewers, but I saw the original at a young age and understood it.

The acting? Tamsin Greig chews scenery, the kids are ordinary, Simon Callow is Simon Callow and Mr Gatiss himself? Ah. Oh dear. He is basically channeling Mickey from the Job Start scheme in The League of Gentlemen. Pretty...Pretty....awful.

If you have to watch one, watch the original.

Having not yet seen the original version. I can only take the Mark Gatiss version on its own terms.

Gatiss is an aficionado of period horror. He might just be the right man to adapt The Amazing Mr Blunden and make it family friendly.

Simon Callow looks just right as Mr Blunden, a lawyer haunted by his failure to protect two orphans placed in his care.

The story starts with newly widowed Mrs Allen trying to claim benefits just before Christmas.

She and her two children Lucy and Jamie get an offer to be a caretaker of a huge mansion by the mysterious Mr Blunden.

The house is regarded as being haunted. Lucy and Jamie come across the ghosts of two children who are going to be murdered. The ones Mr Blunden let down.

It is for Lucy and Jamie to make sure that history doesn't repeat itself.

I found the story to be rather charming. Mark Gatiss and Tamsin Greig bring the right amount of Dickensian grotesque as Mr and Mrs Wickens.

It does feel rather low budget given it is a Sky production. Then again Gatiss is used to low budgets for his BBC4 ghost story adaptations.

There are some nods to Doctor Who as Gatiss tries so hard not to use the phrase timey-wimey. He replaces it with the wheels of time.

The Amazing Mr Blunden (2021)-

It starts off well, but then it becomes quite childish, but in a style from about ten years ago or possibly even longer as it has the same production values and ideals as TV films from my own childhood, which is not that recent.

Some of the characters are very pantomime and I don't think that was necessary. They are more enjoyable if they're realistic, especially when it isn't all of the cast. And actually they would have been more scary too.

The kids are ok and Simon Callow is obviously brilliant in his performance, although his character, Mr Blunden isn't really "Amazing", just guilty. A "Scrooge" that knew a spell.

There are similarities in the story to 'Lemony Snicket's Series Of Unfortunate Events' with bits of 'A Christmas Carol', 'Five Children And It, and the 'Narnia' stories, but it's definitely not executed anywhere near as well as these.

I wonder if it's true to the original book? I mean it was obviously not set in 2021, but I would be interested to know if the book has more incite as to why Mr Blunden might be amazing? (The book is actually called 'The Ghosts' though).

I wouldn't rush to watch it again, but might give it a second chance in years to come and maybe my mood might be more cheery and I may see something new that I missed on this first viewing, but I doubt it.

240.92/1000.