Keeping Mum

Rather dark, decidedly English and exceedingly well played, Keeping Mum is a neatly crafted black comedy with more than a nod in tone toward the Ealing classic "The Ladykillers."

A giddy black comedy about a homicidal housekeeper in rural England, is a hilarious reminder of that 1944 Frank Capra classic about two old maids whose cellar is cluttered with the bodies of would-be suitors.

Amusing dark English comedy produces its share of chuckles.

Moderately amusing.

The problem with this one may be that it just isn't British enough.

Obvious, simplistic, and never funny, Johnson's movie may be useful only as real estate porn--Cornwall and the Isle of Man never looked so super cute.

The movie is a premise in search of a comedy. Rather than flesh it out, the filmmakers put familiar glad rags on the skull and bones.

Keeping Mum shows Atkinson's brilliant (Yet strange) acting style that forms together with other talented actors to create an entertaining dark comedy that never strays away from the story and intertwines with the lives of everyone around.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Keeping Mum – Please, Keep Away Mum Here’s one for those who like to laugh without thinking too much about the writing. The black ‘humor’ gets blacker and grottier as this over-the-top nonsense falls off the rails. While it boasts a good cast and production values, all other values are forgotten as the movie makers go all out for lowly giggles and thinly veiled soft porn. Rather obviously borrowing from the earlier American ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ this English picture adds a grimy American character (Patrick Swayze) lusting after any woman who presents as a vulnerable conquest. In the sales promo Mr Swayze says “Every so often a script comes along that stands out from the rest” - Poor Pat, he sure must have been offered a lot of stinkers or more likely was paid handsomely to make that statement! Mr Atkinson has played local Vickers several times before, but this could possibly be his weakest. The casting and handsome locations will carry this for most viewers, but anyone wanting more may be disappointed by the total outcome.