'Tamara Drewe'

Last night, Rian and I accidentally ended up seeing a really cute movie. We were late for the showing of 127 Hours and 'Tamara Drewe' happened to be the next show playing.

Reluctantly, we saw it. It couldn't have been a more perfect mistake!

The British film centers around newspaper reporter Tamara Drewe (Gemma Arterton) who used to be the ugly duckling in the Dorset village of Ewedown. Now, all grown up and with the help of plastic surgery, she returns to her hometown as a gorgeous bombshell. Her arrival turns the tiny village upside down as she gains a following of lovesick suitors.



The film is a bit racy, a tad sad, and a lot of fun. The story centers around the different people living in the town, which I thought was kind of cool. It made me feel as though I lived in the town and was simply observing all the hilarity firsthand.



The interesting storyline and gorgeous scenery are what make this film awesome.

My favorite characters were two silly 15-year-old school girls who innocently cause mischief throughout the film. The two actresses, Charlotte Christie and Jessica Barden, definitely stole the show. Their acting was very believable and they had some of the most hilarious scenes and quotes in the film. Rian also thought they were hysterical, but only because they reminded him of me and Kerrie.



Another great character was Ben, the ridiculous indie rock star, played brilliantly by Dominic Cooper.



While I really enjoyed the movie, I kind of felt like there was something lacking in Tamara. There was a really good back story that could have been used better. There were issues I thought should be addressed more, in order for the audience to feel really sympathetic for the newly-turned beauty. I don't know if it was Gemma's acting, or the filmmakers' decisions, but Tamara was a complex character that seemed frustratingly one-dimensional throughout the film.



Another character I would have liked to known more about was Andy, the hot gardner, played by Luke Evans. Although he played a key role in the film, his acting was so static and his character was so cardboard cut-out, he simply could have been an extra.



But overall, I thought the film was adorable and insightful. I definitely recommend it, whether it be at the movie theater or through netflix.

Oh, and interesting fact: The film is actually based on a graphic novel of the same name.



I don't really pay much attention to graphic novels, as I enjoy reading without illustrations, but this fact really opened my eyes. It kind of makes me want to get the graphic novel to see if I can learn more about the background of Tamara.

Do you guys read graphic novels? What movies have you seen recently?