Grow Review – A Polished Pumpkin Growing Caper Filled with Perky Charm and Humor Expertise
This upbeat British children's film boasts five different writers listed with the script, with a pair who contributed “additional material”. This might clarify why the story beats unfold with clockwork accuracy, and the characters seem as though they were cultivated in a controlled environment. Paradoxically, the backdrop is a family-run farm where agronomist-owner Dinah chooses organic methods motivated by her gifted niece Charlie, who can sense plants’ emotions through touch.
A Budding Relationship and a Contest-Winning Gourd
Recently introduced, for motives the otherwise polished script fails to explain, Dinah and Charlie bond with one another over several seasons – which aligns with the time required to grow a pumpkin for the local yearly contest. Charlie aims to utilize the award cash to find her mother, said to have run off to become a movie star in California.
The ensemble cast is filled with delightful humorous roles from seasoned UK performers.
Star-Studded Appearances and Villainous Rivals
The mother character eventually appears played by a familiar face, who, like Rosheuvel, has a background in hit shows. Moreover, the cast includes a quirky horticulturist played by Nick Frost, who provides pumpkin-growing tips to Dinah and Charlie. Meanwhile, Jane Horrocks and Tim McInnerny depict the Smythe-Gherkins, the evil local elites set on winning the contest purely for prestige since they don’t need the monetary reward.
- Nick Frost excels in the role of a bohemian gardener.
- The antagonists bring humorous conflict as affluent competitors.
- Young Dominic McLaughlin plays Charlie’s school friend Oliver.
Young Actor's Skill and Directorial Flair
While his Scottish tone appears a bit random in this setting, his dry underplaying and humor sense are so skillful it’s expected he was chosen for a major role in an upcoming series. Filmmaker John McPhail keeps a lighthearted humorous vibe and doesn’t interfere with what is destined to be suitable evening family fun for a specific seasonal period.
