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      An Awfully Big Adventure

      R 1995 1 hr. 53 min. Drama List
      40% 15 Reviews Tomatometer 56% 5,000+ Ratings Audience Score 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. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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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 Read all reviews Post a rating

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      An Awfully Big Adventure

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (15) Critics Reviews
      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 Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      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
      Rating
      R
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Apr 2, 2017
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $258.0K
      Sound Mix
      Surround, Stereo