Grow Review – A Refined Gourd Cultivation Adventure Filled with Perky Charm and Comedic Talent
This upbeat British children's film boasts five different writers credited for the screenplay, with a pair who provided “additional material”. This could explain why the story beats progress with such metronomic precision, and the characters feel as if they were cultivated in a controlled environment. Paradoxically, the setting is a homestead farm where agronomist-owner Dinah chooses organic methods motivated by her gifted niece Charlie, who can sense the feelings of plants through touch.
A Budding Relationship and a Prize Pumpkin
Having only recently met, for reasons the otherwise sleek screenplay doesn't clarify, Dinah and Charlie bond with one another across a few seasons – which aligns with the duration needed to grow a pumpkin for the annual village competition. Charlie hopes to utilize the award cash to find her mother, rumored to have left for become a movie star in the US.
The ensemble cast is packed with delightful humorous roles by veteran British actors.
Star-Studded Appearances and Villainous Rivals
The maternal figure eventually appears portrayed by a familiar face, similar to Rosheuvel, comes from in hit shows. Moreover, the lineup features an eccentric gardener portrayed by Nick Frost, who offers pumpkin-growing tips to Dinah and Charlie. At the same time, Jane Horrocks and Tim McInnerny depict the Smythe-Gherkins, the evil local elites set on winning the contest for glory alone as they lack need for the cash prize.
- Nick Frost shines in the role of a bohemian gardener.
- The antagonists bring humorous conflict as affluent competitors.
- The youthful Dominic McLaughlin plays Charlie’s school friend Oliver.
Young Actor's Skill and Filmmaking Style
While his Scottish tone appears a bit random in this setting, his subtle performance and comic timing are so adept it’s expected he was chosen for a leading part in a future show. Director John McPhail maintains a lighthearted humorous vibe and doesn’t interfere with what is meant to be suitable pre-bedtime entertainment for a specific seasonal period.
