Film Analysis: Grow – A Polished Pumpkin Growing Caper Brimming with Perky Charm and Comedic Talent
This lively British children's film boasts a team of five scribes credited with the script, including two who provided “extra content”. This could explain why the narrative rhythm progress with such metronomic precision, while the personalities feel as if they were cultivated hydroponically in a lab. Paradoxically, the backdrop is a family-run farm where farm-owner Dinah, an agronomist chooses organic methods after being inspired by her magical niece Charlie, who feels plants’ emotions by touching them.
A Growing Bond and a Prize Pumpkin
Recently introduced, for reasons the otherwise polished script doesn't clarify, Charlie and Dinah 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 use the prize money to locate her mom, rumored to have left for become a movie star in California.
The supporting cast is packed with charming comic performances by veteran British actors.
Star-Studded Appearances and Antagonistic Foes
The maternal figure later emerges played by a familiar face, similar to Rosheuvel, comes from in hit shows. Moreover, the lineup features an eccentric gardener played by Nick Frost, who provides advice on growing pumpkins to Dinah and Charlie. At the same time, Jane Horrocks and Tim McInnerny play the Smythe-Gherkins, the evil local elites set on winning the contest for glory alone since they don’t need the cash prize.
- Nick Frost excels as a hippy horticulturist.
- The antagonists bring humorous conflict as wealthy rivals.
- The youthful Dominic McLaughlin plays Charlie’s school friend Oliver.
Young Actor's Skill and Directorial Flair
Though his Scottish accent seems somewhat out of place in this setting, his dry underplaying and humor sense are so adept it’s no surprise he has been cast for a major role in an upcoming series. Director John McPhail keeps a lighthearted humorous vibe and stays unobtrusive with what is meant to be suitable pre-bedtime entertainment for a specific seasonal period.
