Gangsta Granny

Adapting David Walliams books over Christmas has become a bit of a BBC tradition in recent years, and this was the second attempt.

While not as good as 'Mr Stink' this is a warm hearted and funny piece of entertainment for all the family, that features some big name stars embracing the fun.

It doesn't lag in terms of pace and has the necessary sadness that underpin the humour that 'The Boy in the Dress' which followed a year later lacked.

The star stealing turn for me was from Miranda Hart, who manages to earn a laugh from practically all of her lines.

Well done to all involved.

I have just created an account on IMDB merely to write this review. I was recently unfortunate enough to be encumbered on the sofa while this played out on Netflix and have to say I now feel less intelligent and less able to see the world in a positive light as a result. The gags throughout the show were bottom of the barrel and the plotline was riddled with holes the size of the ones I would like to put in my own head after watching it. David Walliams should live with the guilt of what he's done for the rest of life and be tried, alongside Tony Blair, as a war criminal. There were, however, two plus points to the ordeal I was forced to endure. One was the half decent joke about the kid being an avid plumber, plumbing wallpaper and all. A rare glimmer of light in a world of darkness. And the second was that after watching this I was inspired to fulfil my own dreams as a writer, because if David Walliams can make it to Netflix with this utter puddle of slime, then surely there is hope for someone like me. If you are reading this before watching it, save yourself, and don't. If you are reading this afterwards, I offer my sincerest condolences.

Suffice it to say that I had never heard about this 2013 British comedy titled "Gangsta Granny", when I happened to stumble upon it by random chance here in 2024. And with its rather odd title, I have to say that the movie did catch my attention right away. And with it being a movie I hadn't already seen, of course I opted to sit down and watch it.

I was surprised to see that David Walliams was starring in the movie, and had also been writing the script. But that definitely just helped to peak the interest in sitting down to watch the movie.

The storyline in the movie was adequate, though I have to admit that I was expecting a tad more comedy. However, it would seem that "Gangsta Granny" was a kids movie. So it was a little bit of a let down to sit down and watch the movie, truth be told. But I am sure that a younger audience will find something more enjoyable here than I did. It is not that writers David Walliams, Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley put together a poor script, it just happened to be one that didn't really entertain me all that much.

The acting performances in the movie was good. Leading actress Julia McKenzie and actor Reece Buttery carried the movie quite nicely. Of course you always get something fun with actor David Walliams, and it was fun watch Robbie Williams showing up in the movie in that particular role. So thumbs up to the cast ensemble in the movie.

"Gangsta Granny" is not a movie that I will be returning to watch a second time.

My rating of director Matt Lipsey's 2013 movie "Gangsta Granny" lands on a three out of ten stars.

My daughter, who is 7 enjoyed the film, although did'nt quite get some of it. I love Miranda hart so enjoyed her performance as Ben's mother. Julia Mcenzie is also fab as granny but the screen play is poor. Granny ''pretends' to have been an international jewel thief in her past in order to change Ben's view of her as a boring old woman. Very strange to have a subsequent scene where Ben catches her attempting to steal jewellery through the window of a shop. Granny later admits that she had made the story up (so why were you seen trying to rob a jewellers???) In the end her biscuit tin of gems is given to a charity shop and was found to be worth a fortune....ah so it was true!. Not very funny, not very clever and when my daughter asked for the book I refused. David Walliams has somehow made millions from these awful Roald dahl rip off books and if an unknown author had been behind it I doubt it would have been made into a film.

I watched this movie ages ago and I found it alright but a bit daft at some parts. I definitely prefer the other films like Ratburger, Mr stink and Boy in the dress, but it isn't too bad.

If you want to watch a David Walliams film with your family, then i would recommend Mr Stink or Boy in the dress, but if you want to watch one for a laugh then Gangsta Granny is a good pick.

The book was very good and i enjoyed reading it, yet i think the film is a bit worse, but not too much.

I highly think that this doesn't deserve to be rated as low as it is, but not between 7-10, i would say either a 5 or 6, but i can't decide for everyone.