Getting It Right [VHS]

I really liked this movie. It's been years since I've seen it... and quite frankly I'm surprised it hasn't been released on DVD yet. Especially when you consider the major actors that are in the movie (Jane Horrocks, Helena Bonham Carter, Lynn Redgrave, John Gielgud). Actually the two main characters in the movie were not major actors when the movie was made (Jane Horrocks and Jesse Birdsall). Jane Horrocks went on to do so many other rolls (she is most famous for her performance as Bubbles in Ab Fab).

The movie revolves around the main character Gavin Lamb (played by Jesse Birdsall). He plays a man in his late 20's or early 30's. He's a hairstylist, and he is not gay (although most of his friends are). Gavin lives a boring life with his suburban parents. He takes the bus into West London to work in a beauty salon with a poncy older boss, Mr Adrian (played by Peter Cook). Gavin's best friend Harry (played by Richard Huw), is gay... and he also works in the salon. Jane Horrocks plays Jenny... a nice shy quiet girl who does the odd jobs in the salon. Gavin at first doesn't notice Jenny all that much... but that changes in the end.

Gavin goes about his boring life, while his friends and family attempt to get him out more. This is where the story gets interesting. One night Harry takes Gavin out on the town to a house party in a fancy loft flat on the South bank owned by a colourful woman called Joan (played by Lynn Redgrave). Gavin loses his virginity to Joan later on in the movie. But while at the party Harry brought along some of his other gay friends one of which is the handsome, vain and dim Winthrop (played by Kevin Drinkwater). While Winthrop is playing in the bathtub with his current boyfriend Lady Minerva Munday (played by Helena Bonham Carter) is waiting nude in the bed, waiting for Winthrop to get out of the bathroom. Gavin makes the mistake of entering the bedroom and bathroom, to use the toilet, and that's when he sees Winthrop in the tub. As he backs out, out pops Lady Minerva nude out of the bed. At this point Lady Minerva decides that Gavin is worth following... and boy does she. She ends up following Gavin home to his parents place, and she ends up sleeping on the sofa. It gets worse, as the more Gavin tries to dump Lady Minerva the more she follows him.

Lady Minerva is quiet literally nuts, and she convinces herself that Gavin is perfect husband material. She actually manages to trick Gavin into coming to her parents house to meet her parents (played by John Gielgud and Judy Parfitt). John Gielgud did a splendid job at doing a working class accent, while Judy Parfitt plays the perfect drunken mother. At first Gavin want to get out of that house as fast as he can... but Sir Gordon Munday (Gielgud) who at first thinks Gavin is after his daughters fortune, changes his mind and encourages the match in order to get rid of his daughter. Gavin makes a runner when he realizes that the entire Munday family are crazy.

To sum it all up, Gavin's life has changed since the night of that party. Whether it be running from Lady Minerva Munday or the one night stand (where he loses his virginity) to Joan (Lynn Redgrave), Gavin develops courage. The finally speaks back to his boss, and he finally realizes that he likes Jenny (Jane Horrocks). Eventually he falls in love with Jenny and her infant son... (a son he had no idea she had, since he never made any attempts to know Jenny in the beginning of the movie). The movie ends, when Gavin finally develops enough courage to get married to Jenny.

It's a lovely story. I was actually quite hooked on this movie for a few years. It's a feel good type of story... in an English sort of way. But I love English movies.

I don't have this flick on VHS, and it's been years since it was shown on tv, so I haven't seen it for a while. I'd love it if it came out on DVD. I would certainly recommend it. If you like "Shirley Valentine" or "Educating Rita" then you would probably like this movie too.

As a small note, there was a pop song played at Joan's party that I never forgot. It was a song done by the West African musician Mory Kanté called "Yé Ké Yé Ké". This song was very popular in Europe... but it was never big in North America. It was a catchy tune. It's unusual to hear African music in a British movie... but I never forgot it.

This is one of those movies that sneaks up on you. Reading the back of the video box or having someone else describe it, it sounds mediocre, but it's a fantastic film...warm, and genuinely funny and moving. Great acting by Jesse Birdsall, Jane Horrocks (now known as the star of "Little Voice"), Lynn Redgrave and Helen Bonham Carter, plus a hilarious walk-on from John Gielgud. A rare treat.

In fact, anything Colin Firth is in is quite good. I haven't seen this movie in a while, but I do remember that it was quite charming and Colin Firth really makes the character very likeable.