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The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain

Play trailer Poster for The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain PG 1995 1h 39m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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67% Tomatometer 33 Reviews 55% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
During the days of World War I, a small Welsh town relies on its local mountain as a source of pride. When two English cartographers, Reginald Anson (Hugh Grant) and George Garrad (Ian McNeice), arrive to measure the mountain, they discover the landmark is 16 feet short of achieving the official mountain classification. Disheartened that their mountain has been deemed a hill, the townsfolk devise a plan to make up those 16 feet. Meanwhile, Anson falls for a local woman (Tara Fitzgerald).
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The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain

The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain

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Critics Consensus

With an ample serving of Huge Grant's trademark charm, a quirky Welsh town comes together to put their town on the map in this feel-good folksy tale.

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Critics Reviews

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Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Like the film itself, [Hugh Grant] he’s too aware here of his own adorableness. The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill is pleasant, but in a small and overbearingly cute way. As offbeat charmers go, it qualifies as a molehill. Rated: B- Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Leonard Klady Variety A well-bred, diverting idyll. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Tom Charity Time Out Well-crafted as it is, and hard to dislike, it's harder still to shake the suspicion that Monger is making a mountain out of a molehill. Jan 26, 2006 Full Review Kat Halstead Common Sense Media It's a simple, nostalgic watch with a predictable plot whose dramatic peaks are more rolling hills than mountains. Rated: 3/5 Nov 28, 2022 Full Review Edward Porter Sunday Times (UK) It may be only a gentle stroll of a movie, but its charm takes it where it wants to go... Oct 24, 2022 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com A classy, heart-warming fable that points out cultural divisions with a wry smile while working to unite those who stand against pencil-pushers worldwide... Rated: 3/5 May 1, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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L W This is the worst movie I have ever seen and the reason I hate Hugh Grant as an actor Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 04/05/24 Full Review Steve D Not a lot to it but it is entertaining. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Dave K Flawless production and costume design, excellent cinematography and solid direction of first rate cast. It's a pleasure to look at and very cozy/charming. Tara Fitzgerald is top form as usual. Grant is peak Grant. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/14/22 Full Review isla s I thought this was quite an amusing film with a nice charm to it - its very much gentle comedy but its a nice, easy/light watch with quirky locals and an interesting story. Its a period drama of sorts (set c. 1917) with a nice village-y feel and the story wasn't too boring, unlike some similar films, thankfully. I thought Hugh Grant did quite well in his role here. I believe the film is based on a local legend. Historians haven't found any truth to the story but that didn't take away my enjoyment of the film. It is perhaps a little cheesy, or stereotyped, with the depiction of the Welsh locals being angry at outsiders daring to undermine or downplay the status of their beloved surroundings. I particularly enjoyed hearing the random nicknames of some of the locals. It may seem a bit patronising or cheesy perhaps to some but I thought it was a pretty decent film overall and I'd happily recommend it as such, yes. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review clive e Passed the time I suppose. Like a Welsh version of Local Hero ( which I love) but just not as good. All a bit twee and contrived. Tara Fitzgerald was pretty though Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review dave s In The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain, the residents of a small Welsh village take pride in and seem to be defined by the mountain that overlooks their homes. When a pair of English cartographers arrive to survey the mountain and ultimately determine that it's only a hill, the villagers are understandably upset and set out to remedy the problem. It's a cute movie that seem to capture the vibe of smalltown life and the comradery that exists between the residents, but it ultimately feels a little forgettable as it swings from comedy to drama to romance. Hugh Grant is typically charming as one of the Englishmen and the always reliable Colm Meaney is a blast as the randy publican, but there is just nothing memorable about anything that happens over the course of the movie. And good luck remembering the title. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain

The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain (1995) The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain (1995) The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain (1995) The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain (1995) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis During the days of World War I, a small Welsh town relies on its local mountain as a source of pride. When two English cartographers, Reginald Anson (Hugh Grant) and George Garrad (Ian McNeice), arrive to measure the mountain, they discover the landmark is 16 feet short of achieving the official mountain classification. Disheartened that their mountain has been deemed a hill, the townsfolk devise a plan to make up those 16 feet. Meanwhile, Anson falls for a local woman (Tara Fitzgerald).
Director
Christopher Monger
Producer
Sarah Curtis
Production Co
Miramax
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$7.9M
Runtime
1h 39m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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