Plenty

R

1985

2 hr. 4 min.

Drama

List

59%

17 Reviews

Tomatometer

52%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Susan Traherne (Meryl Streep) is trying to put find her purpose in the wake of World War II. After a brief but intense affair with a soldier, she stumbles into a job in politics. Her career brings her into contact with Raymond Brock (Charles Dance), who she ultimately marries. But after the two struggle to start a family, the union begins to crack. Struggling to find happiness, Susan is forced to confront the notion that she may have been happiest during the war.

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Audience Member

I've always believed Meryl Streep film is worth watching in any film. Never got pulled into the storyline of the life of a British woman who formerly worked with the French Resistance in WWII in post-war Britain. Frankly, this drama might appeal to a more intellectual audience. One thing that did set the film back was the fact that the dialogue was often drowned out by the background noises.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Expected more out of this film with Englishwoman fighting for the French Resistance during WWII finding difficulties adapting to post-war life. I ended up getting plenty of this film after two hours since the opening scenes were the high point. Interesting cast featuring Sting and Tracey Ullman; with Streep in control as usual.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I can agree with that quote on the poster on this page, as Streep sounds very in the know and she has never been more gorgeous, but oh man. This movie is B O R I N G !!!! It starts off okay at the very end of World War 2, but then just falls into long stretched out scenes with the actors yammering on for what seems like an eternity. I feel asleep a few times, and had to keep rewinding and even had to just flat up walk away from the film no less than four times. Seriously, even the two sex scenes are fully clothed!!! They even mad sex boring. It has a really nice cast of supporting actors too. One of the better performances from Streep, just as long as you can stay awake to see it.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Scattershot not terribly compelling drama has good acting from the principles but lacks focus. Meryl's character is hard to like and with the distance of time this has become more interesting for spotting the actors in smaller roles who went on to bigger things like Ian McKellan or became known for other facets of their abilities such as Sting and Tracey Ullman than any great entertainment value.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Beautiful, but confusing and ambiguous at the same time.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Beautifully shot, conceptually muddy, peculiarly cast, ultimately worth it for the opportunity to gawp at Streep's terrific cheekbones and multitudinous array of very fine hats.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

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Fred Schepisi

Director

Meryl Streep

Susan Traherne

Charles Dance

Raymond Brock

Tracey Ullman

Alice Park

John Gielgud

Sir Leonard Darwin

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Sheila Benson

Los Angeles Times

Be a little patient: What builds beneath this quiet exterior, shot through with dark wit, is a haunting examination of the price that romantic idealism can exact.

Jul 7, 2015

Full Review

Matt Wolf

Variety

Plenty emerges as an absorbing and fastidiously made adaptation of David Hare's acclaimed play, but also comes off as cold and ultimately unaffecting.

May 13, 2009

Full Review

Chris Peachment

Time Out

Whether or not you buy the message, it's a work that qualifies as epic, and reveals Hare as a great Romantic.

Feb 9, 2006

Full Review

Dilys Powell

Punch

Plenty is a film alive with ideas.

Oct 2, 2023

Full Review

Molly Haskell

Vogue

As it moves through time and gathers intention, Plenty fulfills its promise as a sparkling masterwork as mercurial as its heroine, and one of the major word in a surprisingly strong year.

Feb 28, 2020

Full Review

Kathi Maio

Sojourner

After watching Plenty, I wondered what the point was, since it was obvious that [writer David] Hare meant for there to be one.

Sep 11, 2019

Full Review

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Synopsis

Susan Traherne (Meryl Streep) is trying to put find her purpose in the wake of World War II. After a brief but intense affair with a soldier, she stumbles into a job in politics. Her career brings her into contact with Raymond Brock (Charles Dance), who she ultimately marries. But after the two struggle to start a family, the union begins to crack. Struggling to find happiness, Susan is forced to confront the notion that she may have been happiest during the war.

Director: Fred Schepisi
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Mar 2, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.1M
Sound Mix: Surround