'

The Summer House

Play trailer

The Summer House

1993

1h 22m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

73%

Tomatometer

15 Reviews

45%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Margaret (Lena Headey) has agreed to marry Syl (David Threlfall) ; the problem is, she accepted the proposal to please her aging mother, Monica (Julie Walters), and secretly has no interest in her listless fiancé. As the wedding date draws nearer, friends and family of the bride-to-be begin to arrive, including the free-spirited Lili (Jeanne Moreau), an old friend of Monica's. Luckily, Lili quickly realizes that Margaret and Syl don't gel, and comes up with a brilliant plan to stop the wedding.

Watch on Prime Video

Stream Now

Todd McCarthy

Variety

Chain-smoking, guzzling booze and spouting worldly epigrams about love and life, Moreau fits into Croydon like a peacock in Antarctica, sashaying around and imposing her seductive will on everyone.

Aug 13, 2013

Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Joan Plowright and Jeanne Moreau turn this slight BBC production into a jolly lesson about how two great old theatrical broads can liven up an arty domestic drama.

Rated: C-

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

Jeanne Moreau. Jeanne Moreau. Jeanne Moreau. She is the soul of this movie and its raison d'être.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 12, 2011

Full Review

Malcolm Johnson

Hartford Courant

Although this odd comedy-mystery is never entirely successful, the eternally glamorous, fearlessly ridiculous Moreau takes full advantage of her role to demonstrate that she remains one of the great stars of international cinema.

May 31, 2018

Full Review

TV Guide

The central comic performances by Moreau, Plowright, and Walters keep things lively, especially during the increasingly farcical second half of the film.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 13, 2013

Full Review

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Rated: 2/5

Oct 21, 2005

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

Drama ridden middle aged womens satire about marriage. Dull lifeless assault to the youthful vibrance of all woman kind.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the most eccentric movies I have ever seen. It had the most bizarre ending.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Waris Hussein

Director

Jeanne Moreau

Lili

Julie Walters

Actor

Lena Headey

Actor

Joan Plowright

Mrs. Monro

David Threlfall

Syl

The Everything Pot

88%

%

The Everything Pot

Watchlist

Our Betters

%

36%

Our Betters

Watchlist

Smashing Time

88%

50%

Smashing Time

Watchlist

Where the Heart Is

9%

57%

Where the Heart Is

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Margaret (Lena Headey) has agreed to marry Syl (David Threlfall) ; the problem is, she accepted the proposal to please her aging mother, Monica (Julie Walters), and secretly has no interest in her listless fiancé. As the wedding date draws nearer, friends and family of the bride-to-be begin to arrive, including the free-spirited Lili (Jeanne Moreau), an old friend of Monica's. Luckily, Lili quickly realizes that Margaret and Syl don't gel, and comes up with a brilliant plan to stop the wedding.

Director: Waris Hussein
Screenwriter: Martin Sherman
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.1M
Runtime: 1h 22m
Sound Mix: Stereo

Most Popular at Home Now