Charles Toddington

Oh my what a clunker. Led by a script that displays all the subtlety of a brick, the actors struggle to garner any warmth or empathy. Yes it was low budget, but that surprisingly, didn’t really matter, it was the storyline that let the film down so badly. The total silence in an airfield pub, the incorrect saluting palaver (no cap no salute from officers) & the total inability to portray a Lanc squadron years into the war. What a clunker.

Wow, what a show. So many moments of beautiful writing & wonderful acting. Rebecca Scanlon steals the show from a hugely talented cast & the Just like your mother is as good as anything Victoria Wood gave us. But (& with Wainwright there’s always a but), there’s too much loud pedal (the shouting match between mum & daughter is overdone, the smashing up of the car is way too much) & as usual the men are one-dimensional bad guys (the teacher ignoring the suicide references, the copper pocketing aunties cash). It’s frustrating because as soon as the writing shifts to the minor key it becomes tender & beautifully paced.