WHAT WE DID ON OUR HOLIDAY (2014)
A film review by David N. Butterworth
Copyright 2016 David N. Butterworth

*1/2 (out of ****)

W.C. Fields' famously pithy assertion that actors should never work with children or animals appears to have been overlooked by the makers of "What
We Did On Our Holiday." The children part at least, since Andy Hamilton
and Guy Jenkin have populated their hollow photoplay about death and
divorce with three of the little perishers, two of whom prove that America
does not hold a monopoly on obnoxious brats. But the insufferable kids,
who appear to be ad-libbing all of their one-liners, are only part of the problem with this lame-brained attempt at heartwarming comedy. Poor
writing, truly bizarre camerawork, and an insipid musical score compete to scupper the film before it's more than ten minutes old. A plot synopsis,
taken from the back of the DVD, is as poorly conceived as the film itself: "Doug (David Tennant) and Abi (Oscar-nominee Rosamund Pike) take their kids
on a family vacation. Surrounded by relatives, the kids innocently reveal
the ins and outs of their family life and many intimate details about their parents. It's soon clear that when it comes to keeping a big secret under wraps from the rest of the family, their children are their biggest liability..." As for the animals, the occasional ostrich wanders past cinematographer Martin Hawkins' viewfinder--the film is set in the wilds of Scotland so one can only assume it's meant to be funny--but their inclusion
is as inexplicable as the rest of this thin and terminally-tired exercise
in how *not* to spend your summer vacation. With Billy Connolly.

--
David N. Butterworth
rec.arts.movies.reviews
butterworthdavidn@gmail.com

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