An Awfully Big Adventure

R

1995

1h 53m

Drama

List

40%

Tomatometer

15 Reviews

57%

Audience Score

5,000+ Ratings

Stella Bradshaw (Georgina Cates) is a pretty acting enthusiast who aspires to become a thespian, but winds up as a gofer at a theater company in Liverpool, England. Mesmerized by the troupe's arrogant and callous director, Meredith Potter (Hugh Grant), Stella grows to realize that he isn't capable of loving her. This leads to her involvement with the much older P.L. O'Hara (Alan Rickman), a talented but troubled actor. As Stella's relationship with O'Hara continues, shocking revelations arise.

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Manohla Dargis

Spin

A winning period picture.

Apr 18, 2022

Full Review

Ryan Gilbey

Independent on Sunday

The most startling thing here is Hugh Grant as a De Sade in luvvy's clothing. Grant embroiders him with impeccable details, while writer Charles Wood, adapting Beryl Bainbridge's novel, conveys the basics with admirable economy.

Dec 13, 2017

Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

David Sterritt

Christian Science Monitor

The filmmakers appear to be aiming for laughs much of the time, and on this level their efforts fall completely flat.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 29, 2019

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Star Hugh Grant and director Mike Newell reteam in this bitter-sweet backstage melodrama, set in Liverpool after WWII; it's a disasppointing follow-up to their smash comedy hit Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Rated: C

Mar 31, 2007

Full Review

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

Newell at his nastiest

Rated: 3/5

Apr 17, 2005

Full Review

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M e

Great acting, great story of love; seeking love, truth and then finding tragedy.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Aunque pude adivinar el giro final, llegar hasta ahí fue un viaje interesante. Cada personaje tiene un conflicto propio que podría devenir en más historias, aunque no se pierde tiempo en ello, tan sólo se presentan como otras piezas vivas alrededor de la historia principal. El personaje de O'Hara (Alan Rickman) aparece un poco tarde, pero sin duda se convierte el punto fuerte del filme. Fue agradable ver a Hugh Grant en el personaje de Meredith, carismático y detestable a la vez.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is a very poignant drama about a girl / young woman, growing up and going through some difficult experiences. It's a wonderful film full of great performances, including Hugh Grant's best ever. I've read a lot of reviews that say it was a poor follow up to Four Weddings, but those people miss the point. This is not a comedy, it is a drama and Four Weddings doesn't come into the same league as this film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Based on Beryl Bainbridge's title of the same title which is a nod to J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan, Mike Newell tells a teenage girl's coming of age and sexual awakening when working backstage at a postwar Liverpool theatrical troupe with wry poignancy and bleakness.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Considering the source material and cast this film was an awfully big disappointment.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Dull and drawn out. Nothing happens for the first 95% of the movie, and then everything happens at the end. The conclusion is so swift and left-field it is like you're watching another movie. Pacing is ridiculously bad. Title is very inappropriate, as it implies an adventure story or at least a comedy. It is nothing of the sort. Good performance by Alan Rickman in the lead role. Hugh Grant plays the bad guy, and does it well. Georgina Cates is OK as Stella.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

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Mike Newell

Director

Alan Rickman

P.L. O'Hara

Hugh Grant

Meredith Potter

Georgina Cates

Stella

Alun Armstrong

Uncle Vernon

Peter Firth

Bunny

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Synopsis

Stella Bradshaw (Georgina Cates) is a pretty acting enthusiast who aspires to become a thespian, but winds up as a gofer at a theater company in Liverpool, England. Mesmerized by the troupe's arrogant and callous director, Meredith Potter (Hugh Grant), Stella grows to realize that he isn't capable of loving her. This leads to her involvement with the much older P.L. O'Hara (Alan Rickman), a talented but troubled actor. As Stella's relationship with O'Hara continues, shocking revelations arise.

Director: Mike Newell
Producer: Hilary Heath, Philip Hinchcliffe
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 2, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $258.0K
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo