Lightdeossk Captivating movie !

TaryBiggBall It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Yash Wade Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Darin One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

B. Warren I'm pretty much in line with the 'mainstream' reviewers for fav flics; Lawrence, Quai, Dr. Z, 2001, Dr Strangelove, Silence, LA confidential, etc., etc.There are however, many lessor lights, that are so much worth watching. Some are by age and perspective. I loved 'Boat that Rocked', but if you are not of the 60's - 70's R&R era I could see why others would not.This movie 'The Englishman', is rare one. An enjoyable bit of fluff, filled with English humor, fit for all ages, but sharp enough to keep one entertained throughout the movie, which, itself is timeless.If you wish for a lighthearted enjoyable evening with any and all, that you would wish to share a movie night with, this is one. For certain.

robert-temple-1 I just saw this film again after many years, and enjoyed it even more this time. It is so delightful and refreshing, that it is a complete gem. It ranks with the wonderful whimsical comedies made by Sandy Mackendrick, such as WHISKEY GALORE (1949). The film is directed by Christopher Monger, who also wrote the screenplay, based on a story published by his father Ifor David Monger, who in turn heard the story from his own father. It seems that the story is essentially true. Considering how astonishing the story is, that really is remarkable. The film is set in 1917 in South Wales, just north of Cardiff, in a village with a long name which only the Welsh can pronounce. The Mongers were Welsh and so was Kenneth Griffiths, whose performance as the Methodist minister Robert Jones is spectacular and inspired, one of the best-honed comic performances in a British film for decades. He was 73 at the time. The humour of this film is the gentle, gnomic and teasing humour which the English use when they are making films about how charming, but deeply odd, either the Welsh or the Scots are. In this case it's the Welsh. I am very fond of the Welsh and have spent a great deal of time in South Wales, and I love the sing-song accent of the Welsh. I think most English people are fond of the Welsh, looking upon them as a quizzical species inhabiting the far west of the island, whom they wish they could understand. There is nothing the Welsh like better than half-teasing and half-insulting Englishmen, and there is plenty of that in the film, all hilariously funny of course. And when a Welshman gets stuffy, he may have a friend say to him, as happens in this film: 'Stop being so English.' Well, it is wartime and young Hugh Grant has just recovered from shell shock after taking part in the battle of Verdun, and is travelling on an assignment for the Ordnance Survey with a much older man, played by the totally hilarious Ian McKenzie. The humour in this film is all well-judged, and never over-played, though they come near it many a time. The Welsh in this village are very proud of the fact that just beyond their village is 'the first mountain in Wales', after which the mountains continue to rise up and define northern Wales. McKenzie and Grant have come to do an official survey and determine the height of the little mountain. McKenzie announces in the pub that if the mountain is less than 1000 feet high, it will be reclassified on the official maps as a hill. All of the villagers are deeply shocked, and are full of apprehension that their one claim to distinction will be taken away from them. When McKenzie and Grant are able to measure the height they find that it is 984 feet, and the mountain is therefore a hill. The whole village goes into shock, and they determine to take measures to save the reputation of their mountain. So they form chains of people to carry soil up to the top and raise the height of their hill so that it can become a mountain again. All the goings-on are so wonderfully funny and complex that they defy summary, but this film is certainly a chuckle-a-minute, punctuated by one's guffaws. About half way through the film the pretty girl, Betty, enters the story. She is played impishly and naughtily by Tara Fitzgerald. Tara and I were once 'sport champions' together in an episode hilarious enough to be in the Welsh film. My wife and I were staying with our friends the Hitchings for Christmas at Swalcliffe, and Tara was with her friends the Harrises, next door at Swalcliffe, when we all came together for purposes of merriment with a considerable amount of hearty drinking for an evening. Tara was determined to play a game of hockey, despite the fact that it was dark outside and very cold, and insisted on playing hockey on the Harris family's tennis court, which was beside their house. I had never played hockey, but because Tara is very bossy and readily takes charge (even aged 14), she soon set me straight. It was enormous fun playing hockey on a tennis court, lit only by the light that came from the windows, and with wisps of snow drifting across the court. Tara and I won a heroic victory and were much toasted. She is one hell of a gal, and as determined as they come. She always adds a note of piquancy to any film she is in, including this one. Hugh Grant was at his very best in this film, and it was only much later that he irritated everyone by becoming too self-regarding and pompous with his Hacked Off campaign. Who cares if Hugh Grant's phone was bugged? I don't. He probably only talked a load of rubbish anyway. But in this film he is perfectly charming, so all is well, because he was still young and unspoiled. The film really is a marvel. If only there were more like it.

jamariana The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill But Came Down A Mountain is a decent film. It is charming and features a wonderful cast. The story is interesting and quite entertaining. However, the premise would have served better for a short film rather than a feature film. Like many of Woody Allen's movies, the small plot is stretched to suit a film far too long for the idea. This film should have been 40 or so minutes long. Even 70 minutes would have been too long for this type of story. Even though it's a pretty short film in its own right, it was still too long for its story. Aside from that one flaw though, it was a quaint and enjoyable film with a heart and hilarious characters.

Neil Doyle Despite the fact that it's about almost nothing relevant to the average movie-goer, THE ENGLISHMAN WHO WENT UP A HILL BUT CAME DOWN A MOUNTAIN manages to be a charming diversion but ultimately, it's as innocuous as its title.Drawbacks aside, it does offer some hauntingly beautiful color cinematography of Welsh landscapes, day and night, blazing with beauty, some quaint village shots of pubs and lodgings that look invitingly cosy, and some sketchy characterizations that do little more than pad out a rather tedious little tale.HUGH GRANT does another one of his befuddled, amused, eyebrow lifting characterizations, complete with stutter and smile and pause between words, a role he seemed destined to repeat again and again. But he fits the role and the story--which takes place in 1917 Wales.The jaunty musical score compensates for some slow moments but all the actors do a competent job of keeping things on a realistic level. There are no big names in the cast aside from Grant, but they all make their mark while he gets most of the footage for a rather awkward romance with a local girl who spends the night on the mountain with him.Summing up: Not much in the way of a plot, but it manages to be appealing and extremely well photographed.