Grow Review – A Refined Pumpkin Growing Caper Filled with Perky Charm and Humor Expertise
This lively UK family movie boasts five different writers credited for the screenplay, including two who provided “additional material”. This might clarify why the story beats progress with clockwork accuracy, while the personalities seem as though they were cultivated in a controlled environment. Paradoxically, the backdrop is a family-run farm where farm-owner Dinah, an agronomist chooses organic methods after being inspired by her gifted niece Charlie, who can sense the feelings of plants by touching them.
A Growing Bond and a Prize Pumpkin
Recently introduced, for reasons the otherwise sleek screenplay fails to explain, Charlie and Dinah bond with one another across a few seasons – which coincides with the duration needed to cultivate a pumpkin for the local yearly contest. Charlie aims to use the prize money to find her mother, rumored to have run off to pursue stardom in California.
The supporting cast is filled with delightful humorous roles from seasoned UK performers.
Notable Cameos and Villainous Rivals
The mother character later emerges played by a well-known actress, similar to Rosheuvel, comes from in hit shows. Moreover, the lineup features a quirky horticulturist played by Nick Frost, who provides pumpkin-growing tips for the duo. Meanwhile, Tim McInnerny and Jane Horrocks depict the Smythe-Gherkins, the villainous upper-class neighbors set on winning the contest purely for prestige since they don’t need the cash prize.
- Nick Frost shines in the role of a bohemian gardener.
- The antagonists add comedic tension as affluent competitors.
- The youthful Dominic McLaughlin stars as Charlie’s pal Oliver.
Young Actor's Skill and Directorial Flair
While his Scottish tone seems somewhat out of place in this context, his dry underplaying and humor sense are so skillful it’s no surprise he has been cast for a major role in a future show. Director John McPhail maintains a lighthearted humorous vibe and stays unobtrusive with what is meant to serve as pre-bedtime entertainment during a particular time of year.
