Grow Review – A Polished Gourd Cultivation Adventure Filled with Lively Appeal and Comedic Talent
This lively British children's film boasts a team of five scribes credited with the script, with a pair who provided “additional material”. This could explain why the story beats unfold with such metronomic precision, while the personalities seem as though they were developed in a controlled environment. Ironically, the backdrop is a family-run farm where farm-owner Dinah, an agronomist decides to go organic after being inspired by her gifted niece Charlie, who feels plants’ emotions through touch.
A Growing Bond and a Prize Pumpkin
Recently introduced, for motives the otherwise polished script doesn't clarify, Dinah and Charlie bond with one another over several seasons – which coincides with the duration needed to grow a pumpkin for the local yearly contest. Charlie hopes to utilize the award cash to find her mother, rumored to have run off to become a movie star in California.
The ensemble cast is packed with charming comic performances by veteran British actors.
Notable Cameos and Villainous Rivals
The mother character later emerges played by a well-known actress, who, like Rosheuvel, comes from in popular series. Moreover, the lineup features an eccentric gardener played by Nick Frost, who provides advice on growing pumpkins for the duo. At the same time, Tim McInnerny and Jane Horrocks play the Smythe-Gherkins, the villainous upper-class neighbors set on winning the competition purely for prestige since they don’t need the monetary reward.
- Nick Frost excels as a hippy horticulturist.
- The foes bring humorous conflict as wealthy rivals.
- The youthful Dominic McLaughlin plays Charlie’s school friend Oliver.
Youthful Talent and Directorial Flair
While his Scottish tone seems somewhat out of place in this context, his dry underplaying and humor sense are so skillful it’s no surprise he was chosen for a major role in an upcoming series. Director John McPhail maintains a lighthearted humorous vibe and doesn’t interfere with what is meant to be suitable pre-bedtime entertainment for a specific seasonal period.
