Tamara Drewe Released 10 September 2010 Director Stephen Frears Starring Gemma Arterton, Dominic Cooper, Roger Allam, Luke Evans, Tamsin Grieg Writer(s) Moira Buffini, Posy Simmonds Producer(s) Alison Owen, Tracey Seaward, Paul Trijbits Origin United Kingdom Running Time 111 minutes Genre Comedy Rating 15A

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Thomas Hardy in filthy modern England.

It's such a pleasure to come across a movie that completely smashes one's negative (and slightly bitter) expectations of what looked, for all intents and purposes, to be yet another boring romantic comedy to be thrown on the trash heap. That's just how I felt watching Tamara Drewe, Stephan Frears' adaptation of Posy Simmond's comic strip cum novel, itself based on the reputable Far from the Madding Crowd, a 19th century novel by literary icon Thomas Hardy. Instantly engaging, the movie is a raucous modern take on the lives and loves of simple English country folk- who's supposedly idyllic country lives turn out to be rife with lust, drama and intrigue. Hardy's novel is a drama based on the love affairs of one Bathsheba Everdene, her changing circumstances, and the complications that arise from being a vain and haughty girl with too many suitors. The general plot and main characters are quite close to the plot hooks and characters of this movie also, but has a much more sombre tone, focusing on class issues, heartbreak, and the realities of unfaithfulness and unrequited love. Stephan Frears, and Posy Simmonds, who wrote the screenplay for the movie as well as the original comic strip, treat the story with lightheartedness and humour, and the modernising of a period-style drama is hilarious, touching, and full of acceptable filth (for an English comedy).

Set in Dorset, the English countryside has never looked so appealing, with barely a raindrop in sight, and a landscape peppered with cows, hens, buff topless farmers and quaint writers’ retreats. Cobblestoned streets lead to rolling hills and lush green fields, where Andy- played by Luke Evans, works at making farming sexy (and somehow strangely succeeds). He works for Beth Hardiment, domestic slave -sorry, wife- of Nicholas Hardiment, a successful crime novelist who holds writers’ retreats in his country home in order to keep his wife in the scone making business while he swans around listening to the aahs and oohs of his fans, all the while having adulterous romances with racy looking women half his age. Beth Hardiment is played by Tamsin Grieg, most recognisable from Black Books as Fran, and is disarmingly believable as the put-upon and ever loyal wife who entertains her husband's constant clatter of adoring fans and aspiring writers groups, diligently types up his manuscripts and somehow believes him every time it seems he ends the affair and professes undying love (almost) and regret in order to keep her in her place. Roger Allan also gives a deliciously nauseating turn as the sleazy arrogant husband who's obsessed with chasing tail and feeding his ego by having less talented -or at least, less published- writers around.

The plot thread that echoes Hardy's novel concerns Tamara, (Gemma Arterton), who returns to her sleepy hometown village, new plastic nose and mini in tow, now a confidently racy sex-pot who's enjoying the new found attention from the males in the village. A three way (no, it's not that saucy) romantic entanglement between Andy, her honest and reliable ex who still holds a flame for her, Ben, an eyeliner wearing, narcissistic rock-star, and Nicholas, older sleazebag who excites Tamara out of mere vanity and boredom, begins and ties together the many underlining plot lines in quite a surprisingly dramatic climax at the end -the hex of which by the way, is a great scene in its tension and emotion- an action scene in a uniquely rural setting. There are multitudinous references to Hardy's novel throughout, apart from in the actual plot, but in reality what gives this movie such immense appeal are the various stories, relationships and characters that create a warm and intriguingly simplistic little world, which is realistic in the many connections and loyalties between the various characters. The writers that stay for the retreat in the Hardiment's farmhouse, especially at the beginning of the movie are hilarious and quirky, Bronagh Gallagher standing out as a small character who writes lesbian crime. Glen, (Bill Camp) really deserves respect for managing to be instantly likable and honest as the novelist writing about Hardy's life, and for me is the hero of the story for rescuing Beth from a life of little respect or companionship.

The real stars of the show are actually the two young actors, Jessica Barden and Charlotte Christie, who play two young teenagers who hang out around the village, trying to create some excitement by nosing on the affairs of the older villagers, egging passing cars and getting up to as much trouble as is possible for two kids in a village with not much to do. Jessica Barden in particular is downright hilarious as Jodi, who's obsession with Ben- drummer from the pop-rock band Swipe, leads to all kinds of chaos as she interferes in any way she can to get a chance to keep Ben around. She outshines most of the other actors for pure comedic genius in her dirty mouth and rebellious ways, and is by far the best portrayal of a normal teenager in a movie like this that I've seen. All in all, Tamara Drewe is a funny, touching portrayal of a soap-opera style English romantic comedy and redeems all that awful romantic comedy dribble that we've been subjected to for what seems like an eternity. Maybe I'll give the genre a chance again.

- Eadaoin Browne