Tamara Drewe

An old-fashioned comedy about English eccentrics told in the style of the graphic novel by Posy Simmonds on which it's based, director Stephen Frears' quirkily amusing film finds once-plain Tamara Drewe (Gemma Arterton) returning to her English village as a glamorous journalist. Tamara's visit has a strong impact on the writers retreat located next door to the farm she's inherited, run by a sweet manager-cook, Beth (Tamsin Greig), and her husband, Nicholas (Roger Allam), a successful mystery novelist and inveterate philanderer whose eye immediately falls on Tamara, as does that of their hunky handyman, Andy (Luke Evans), who was once her childhood buddy. Other characters include a wild-eyed rock drummer who takes up with Tamara, a pair of bored trouble-making teen girls who make it their business to spy on the couple, and the peculiar scribes who inhabit the retreat, including an American academic writing a book on Thomas Hardy. Frears juggles the various story strands skillfully, making for a nifty blend of satire, comedy, romance, and pathos. Although a bit uneven, Tamara Drewe's oddballs provide considerable fun, and the lovely English locations are an added plus. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by costars Gemma Arterton and Luke Evans, a “making-of” featurette (14 min.), a “Reconstructing Tamara Drewe” production featurette (11 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is the BD-Live function. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an entertaining film.] (F. Swietek)