Arthur's Whisky

I enjoyed this but it didn't flow. It's hard to say why. In parts it felt like a BBC kids tv show - the sort where they have a ripping adventure. Things happened with little preamble and a lot of jaunty music, then we were off to the next thing. The conversations often seemed brief and slightly stilted, as if the actors were simply conveying information. I think that was down to the script rather than the acting. "I hate you, mother. You don't know what it's like to be me." "When you were six, you had meningitis and I would have done anything to change places with you." "Righty-ho, mother. I don't hate you so much now. Cheerio." I'm exaggerating, of course, although it's not too far off the mark. However, the premise was good and there were some genuinely funny moments. I'd sum it up as entertaining but a little awkward.

As a Scot from Glasgow, watching Lulu, a Scot from Glasgow, trying to put on a Scottish accent and refer to Glasgow as Glasga was like a punch in the stomach.

The premise seemed funny but the film really didn't hit the mark.

The younger casting really was off too. Patricia Hodge and Diane Keaton are great actresses. Their younger counterparts not so much.

Lulu hasn't done a lot of acting, and it shows, again the accent was really painful.

The script was pretty dire, which is a shame because in the right hands this could have been quite a good little comedy film, however it was just a bit embarrassing.

Super dumb, yet it somehow kinda worked for me.

'Arthur's Whisky' is a very low budget picture, I mean just look at that unintentionally hilarious attempt at portraying a visit to Las Vegas (!!). The plot is very silly and, obviously, nonsensical but in the end I kinda dug it, to be honest. The film does plateau at around the hour mark, though the heartfelt conclusion brought it back to win me over.

I guessed the general vibe (slow paced story of oldies being oldies) of this movie based on the poster and I was mostly correct, though the opening minutes of this made it look like a proper adventure/fantasy was on the way - it evidently wasn't, so quite the jarring beginning!

Diane Keaton, Patricia Hodge and Lulu lead onscreen events and the trio do well enough, as a three they worked better than they did individually. What actually probably helped this for me was the three that played their youngers. Genevieve Gaunt, Esme Lonsdale and Hannah Howland are good. Adil Ray's whole subplot with Lulu/Howland is very cringe, mind you.

Looking around, this has not been received all that positively - though a deeper look around does suggest a more even split of opinion, it does work for some. Just look at that expired tomato website - 80%/14% for critics/audience! Fascinating, really.

I am a fan of Keaton, so when I read about Arthur's Whisky and also that it was a British Comedy I knew that I would have to give it a go.

Hodges, Keaton, and Lulu are fantastic in the older versions of themselves. Joan (played by Hodges) is married to an eccentric inventor of nothing very useful until one night he perfects a youth serum and, in the process of his celebrations gets killed in a freak accident. Joan's friends (Keaton and Lulu) gather around for moral support and upon cleaning out Arthur's shed discover what they think is a bottle of whisky. After downing nearly the whole bottle they wake up the next morning in their 20's.

The idea is fantastic. However, it was lacking something. The actresses playing the younger versions were barely tolerable in their roles. They were way over the top in their characterizations.

The story did however deliver a few good messages - we should live life to the full, not have any regrets, and don't be pressured by what we deem society expects us to be like.

The movie had a great cameo by Boy George, so that was a highlight.

Three friends enjoy a tipple of whisky after a funeral, what they quickly realise, is that the whisky has special powers, the ability to turn back the years....for a short few hours, the girls must use their limited stash wisely.

I get the criticisms about this film, and I'll start with the gripes, and there are several, it is so syrupy, it's enough to give you diabetes, and of course it ticks every single box under the sun, imagine Disney renaming Death becomes her, but removing the magic.

The efforts to create Las Vegas were a little cringe worthy, even Murder, she wrote fans would raise an eyebrow.

However, it's hard not to enjoy the wonderful cast, Diane Keaton, Lulu and the magical Patricia Hodge, the talents of the trio manage to make it watchable for me.

A real waste of Bill Patterson, Hayley Mills and Joanna David, none of them had enough to do.

It could have been so much better, as it stands it not bad, it's sweet, it's well meaning, if only it had focused more on the actual story telling.

I'll give it a very generous 6/10.