THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 18, 1995 TAG: 9505180065
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Movie Review
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, MOVIE CRITIC
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
``THE ENGLISHMAN WHO Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain'' is an altogether charming movie surprise that takes a little and does a great deal with it.
The title reveals the plot, such as it is. The setting is 1917, in the midst of World War I, in the remote and nondescript Welsh village of Ffynnon Garw. Two English map makers arrive to measure the local mountain. When they find that the geographical landmark falls 15 feet short of ``mountain'' status, the villagers get up in arms. It may be just 15 feet to the map makers, but it's a matter of identity and pride to them. Their mountain won't even be on the map if something isn't done.
``Half of our men were gone to war,'' the narrator comments. ``How could we face those who survived if, when they came back, there were no mountain left?''
The townsfolk, as lively and colorful a bunch you'd find this side of Brigadoon or Oz, demand a recount and proceed to fix the results. First, though, they have to keep the two Englishmen (Hugh Grant and Ian McNeice) from leaving town. Among their ruses is to bring in the seductive Betty of Cardiff (Tara FitzGerald).
Written and directed by Christopher Monger, the flimsy but entertaining plot is retold from Monger's memories of a tale told to him by his Welsh grandfather. He maintains it is true in every way.
The town is inhabited by a lively group of eccentric and often daffy characters, including a shellshocked war veteran, two twins who barely talk, a womanizing pub operator and a garrulous minister who serves as both cheerleader and doomsayer.
The director clearly is more centered on the townsfolk than on his leading man, Hugh Grant, who emerged as a star with ``Four Weddings and a Funeral'' while this movie was filming. This is all to the good. Grant reacts to everything around him, including FitzGerald, with the kind of droll, repressed-yet-interested curiosity that has already become his comic trademark. The romantic subplot between Grant and FitzGerald is a refreshing respite from the village characters.
At its most meaningful, ``The Englishman. . . '' is about a search for identity, the search we all conduct to find, and mark, our place. At its most manipulative, it encourages us to pull for the underdogs and to climb that hill - whether it be a mountain or not.
It's encouraging that ``The Englishman. . . ,'' like several other recent British and Australian entries, is being released in our mall theaters, aimed at a large audience.
If you seek a quiet, introspective, but totally charming film, this is your ticket. ILLUSTRATION: FILM REVIEW
"THE ENGLISHMAN WHO WENT UP A HILL BUT CAME DOWN A MOUNTAIN"
Cast: Hugh Grant, Tara FitzGerald
Director and screenplay: Christopher Monger
MPAA rating: PG (mature themes)
Mal's rating ***
by CNB