Whatever Happened to Harold Smith?

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Whatever Happened to Harold Smith?

R

Released Jun 15, 2001

1h 35m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

40%

Tomatometer

10 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Eighteen-year-old Vince (Michael Legge) is obsessed with disco, until his world turns upside down when he falls in love with an exotic punk, not realizing that she is Joanna (Laura Fraser), his workmate in a solicitor's office. Meanwhile, Vince's father Harold (Tom Courtenay) passes his retirement in front of the television, being ignored by his still-glamorous wife Irene (Lulu), who prefers the company of younger men. Harold reveals a knack for performing tricks and changes all their lives.

Geoff Pevere

Toronto Star

If you're looking for an industrial-strength dose of twinkly twaddle, here's your hypo.

Nov 2, 2001

Full Review

Ray Conlogue

Globe and Mail

A predictable pudding of a love story surrounded by a lot of over-tweaked, overcooked nonsense.

Rated: 1.5/4

Nov 2, 2001

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George Perry

BBC.com

There are some excellent digs at television's enduring capacity for trivialising serious issues.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 5, 2001

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Aug 5, 2005

Full Review

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 25, 2002

Full Review

Jim Slotek

Jam! Movies

There's just too much going on, too many cliches and too little insight.

Nov 2, 2001

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Audience Member

This was like finding a hidden gem. Offbeat and original, whimsical, quirky and humorous, Whatever Happened? is a smallish but lovingly made film that deals with relationships of all kinds...boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife, sibling/sibling, employer/employee but it's more than that. There's a bit of magic thrown in besides, and best of all I felt better after watching it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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Audience Member

Light hearted, good humoured and entertaining. Excellent soundtrack if you are old enough to remember punk!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Audience Member

In a nutshell this movie was a breath of fresh air, it provided a great soundtrack, wonderful acting, a touching story and a wonderful cast, but the best thing were the surprise chuckles, a diamond of a film, get it watched!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

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Audience Member

Odd and silly. Very, very odd...and silly.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

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Audience Member

Set in yorkshire in the 70s - Great script and had me laughing all the way through

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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Audience Member

Never really felt like I got this movie - seemed to me that it was an inside joke & I was not on the inside. The father is extremely dull & the youngest son idolises him, & the film deals more with the younger son & his attempts to crack on to the office spunk. The father reveals a talent that lands him in a whole lot of trouble.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Peter Hewitt

Director

Tom Courtenay

Harold Smith

Stephen Fry

Dr. Peter Robinson

Michael Legge

Vince Smith

Laura Fraser

Joanna Robinson

Lulu

Irene Smith

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82%

95%

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Synopsis

Eighteen-year-old Vince (Michael Legge) is obsessed with disco, until his world turns upside down when he falls in love with an exotic punk, not realizing that she is Joanna (Laura Fraser), his workmate in a solicitor's office. Meanwhile, Vince's father Harold (Tom Courtenay) passes his retirement in front of the television, being ignored by his still-glamorous wife Irene (Lulu), who prefers the company of younger men. Harold reveals a knack for performing tricks and changes all their lives.

Director: Peter Hewitt
Producer: David Brown, Ruth Jackson
Screenwriter: Ben Steiner
Distributor: USA Films
Production Co: October Films, West Eleven Films
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 15, 2001, Wide
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)