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My Family & Other Animals [2005] [DVD]

Imelda Staunton , Eugene Simon    Parental Guidance   DVD
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
Price: £6.75 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Frequently Bought Together

My Family & Other Animals [2005] [DVD] + My Family And Other Animals [DVD][1987] + The Corfu Trilogy
Price For All Three: £28.04

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Product details

  • Actors: Imelda Staunton, Eugene Simon, Chris Langham, Matthew Goode, Russell Tovey
  • Format: PAL
  • Language: English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: PG
  • Studio: 2entertain
  • DVD Release Date: 23 April 2007
  • Run Time: 88 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000MGB0Z6
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,228 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

Reviews

Product Description

BBC adaptation of Gerald Durrell's bestselling autobiography, telling the story of the naturalist's childhood years spent on the island of Corfu. Escaping the dreary weather of 1930s England, the eccentric Durrell family uproots and ships itself off to the sun drenched Greek island of Corfu. With the help of larger-than-life local taxi-driver Spiro (Omid Djalili), the family, headed by Mother (Imelda Staunton), move to a succession of different, fantastically-coloured villas dotted across the landscape. While his sister Margo (Tamzin Merchant) fights off the advances of would-be suitors, his gun crazy brother Leslie (Russell Tovey blasts the island's bird life to smithereens and the overbearingly intellectual Larry (Matthew Goode) invites a stream of artistic types to stay, young Gerald explores the glorious scenery and the wildlife it has to offer. Watching one sort of the animal kingdom in their natural habitat allows Gerald to learn more incisively about the habits of an altogether different group: his own family.

Synopsis

A warm, magical and nostalgic adaptation of Gerald Durrell's renowned autobiography. Escaping the dreary weather of 1930s England, the eccentric Durrell family uproot and ship themselves off to the sun-drenched Greek island of Corfu. With the help of larger-than-life local taxi-driver Spiro, the family, headed by the Oscar-nominated Imelda Staunton, move to a succession of different, fantastically coloured villas dotted across the landscape. While Margo fights off the advances of would-be suitors, gun-crazy Leslie blasts the island's bird life to smithereens and overbearing intellectual Larry invites a stream of artistic types to stay, young Gerald explores the glorious scenery and the wildlife it has to offer. Watching one sort of the animal kingdom in their natural habitat allows Gerald to learn more incisively about the habits of an altogether different group: his own family. Adapted by Simon Nye (Pride, Men Behaving Badly, The Savages), from the book by Gerald Durrell.


Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars serendipity 19 Feb 2009
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I found this delightful cinematic gem while searching for movies starring Matthew Goode, one of the best young English actors today. He is perfect here as the oldest son in this singular family: handsome, droll, hedonistic, supercilious, fully flexing his considerable comedic muscles.

This is a group of superb actors playing off each other, generous to a fault, and having a ball. The fun they have is sublimely infectious.

The movie is a vibrant and winning portrayal of Gerald Durrell's memoir of his family, just prior to WWII, living on Corfu. Durrell, who became a leading zoologist and wrote 37 books, cut his chops on Corfu, scoping out scorpions and other forms of wildlife dangerous and benign. He was about thirteen, with an older sister and two older brothers, equally quirky, individual, and funny.

His sister discovers boys - and men - wreaking much havoc on the island. His older brother, played perfectly by adorable Russell Tovey (History Boys), has a mania for hunting and shooting. And Larry (author Lawrence Durrell), played by Goode, is an obsessed writer who smokes, lounges about, and poses. He invites an amusing group of eccentric friends, including author Henry Miller, who writes in the nude and considers clothing the last refuge of the bourgeoisie. His family find them somewhat less entertaining.

Their summer is also populated by other characters with whom they interact: two British tutors, a Turkish boyfriend, the family's Greek mentor, housemaid, and a customs agent who confiscates lingerie and linen.

Imelda Staunton, as the mother of this brood, holds the whole mess together and has never been more enjoyable.

Great episodic story, beautiful photography, clever editing, highly imaginative music, smart script, delightful acting. The 85 minutes fly by and leave us wanting much more of this endearing family.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful 21 Aug 2008
By Trionon
Format:DVD
Warm and funny and slightly touching (shed a few tears at the end), in fact I've acquired a copy for my collection along with the 1987 version, this is actually one of the rare examples when a short adaptation works just as well.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Holiday Movie 20 April 2009
Format:DVD
Being a Russell Tovey fan, I bought this film and was not disappointed. I really enjoyed the movie, it is a great collection of odd but charming characters enjoying their life on the Greek island of Corfu. Credible script, the historic background is only slightly touched.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous.
Well scripted and acted and included the main events from the book - wonderful entertainment for a cold, winter's day.
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. Jane I. Warne
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb
It is a lovely film. Outstanding performances. Enjoyable by all the family. It is always a pleasure to re-watch it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by MV
5.0 out of 5 stars Just the ticket for winter evenings in
If you're looking for a film the whole family can enjoy on an evening in, then look no further than this adaptation of Gerald Durrell's "My Family and Other Animals. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Secret Spi
5.0 out of 5 stars really brings the book to life
The book of this film was a inspiration to me ,Ive visited Corfu 100s of times and the magic still remains after all these years ,Emelda Staunton is a fine actor and brings Mrs... Read more
Published 3 months ago by william phillips
5.0 out of 5 stars My Family and Other Aninmals
My Family & Other Animals [2005] [DVD]It's a great film and reflects the content of the book, which is one of my favourites, very well. Read more
Published 6 months ago by macagee
4.0 out of 5 stars Delightful adaption of an old favourite...
I grew up reading the Gerald Durrell books and know this particular one very well. This adaption was like an visiting an old friend... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Lizzie V
5.0 out of 5 stars My family and other animals
A film you can watch time and time again and would remain as funny as it was the first time.
Published on 16 May 2011 by mac
4.0 out of 5 stars Good family entertainment
Lovely scenery, amusing content, not quite as good as recent radio4 production which incorporated more of book.A nice family night in!
Published on 5 Nov 2010 by Mrs. C. Robinson
2.0 out of 5 stars A terrible let down
I spotted this by chance and sent off for it straightaway - I've been a fan of the book for thirty years and wondered how I'd missed it before. Read more
Published on 7 Sep 2010 by Jimbob
5.0 out of 5 stars PORTRAY'S GERALD DURRELL'S BOOK BRILLIANTLY!
Gerald Durrell's book is brought to life brilliantly in this film. Love the cast, who portray his family, friends and associates so perfectly. Read more
Published on 21 May 2010 by Mrs. V. Jeffery
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