Customer Reviews

Masterpiece Theatre: My Family and Other Animals

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Readers of "My Family and Other Animals" might approach this BBC adaptation with some reluctance. How could the producers ever hope to convey the wisdom and humor of Gerald Durrell's book into 90 minutes? An ideal adaptation should probably be at least four hours, if not more but this film does not do badly.

The casting was well done with Imelda Stauton (who starred in Vera Drake) being a perfect choice for as Mrs. Durrell. Spiro and Theo appear exactly as I would picture them as are Larry's impossible friends. Gerald is well cast and his curiosity in nature is brought to the film but there is no time to deal with the animals individually. We can see that Gerald has an owl but we don't get any details about him. The scene with the scorpions is in the film and nicely brought off and the Rose-Beetle Man is perfectly done. The actor's have done a remarkable job in capturing the personalities of the Durrell family and the magical beauty of Corfu is nicely conveyed as Gerald investigates the island with his dog Roger.

There are so many humorous episodes for the writers to choose from that I am sure some viewers will be somewhat dismayed that their favorite was not select. The magpies have their five minutes in the film but their antics are not as clearly drawn as they are in the book. They do raid Larry's room but we do not learn about how Larry was trying to keep them out, and we do not get to see them calling after Spiro as he sets out on yet another errand.

So, I found this version of "My Family and Other Animals" to be a delight but I wish it was longer. I could not help but recalling episodes that were not included or cut short. I do recommend the film as it captures the essence of Gerald Durrell's book; it is just a slice of the book but a fairly good helping.

Gerald Durrell grew up to be a famous naturalist, animal-collector and conservationist. Over his lifetime he wrote thirty-seven books, went on dozens of animal-collecting trips and presented numerous television shows including The Amateur Naturalist and Ourselves and Other Animals. For those who have read Durrell's books or at least know of him, the latest Masterpiece Theater film (currently screening on PBS) of his memoir My Family and Other Animals, will be a real treat.

Quirky, silly and also lovely to watch, the film stars Imelda Staunton as Gerald's mother and the hunky Matthew Goode as Larry, his older brother, and most of the action takes place in the picaresque island of Corfu. The Durrell family is indeed eccentric. Imbued with a sense of adventure and totally fed up with the gloomy English weather, they pack themselves off Corfu where they're soon adopted by Spiro, the only English-speaking taxi driver on the island (Omid Djalili).

Unfortunately Mum doesn't have much faith as a parent and she tends to let her collection of eccentric kids rule the roost. She spoils and indulges them. Larry (Goode) spends as much time a he can with a glass of wine and conversation as he does at his transportable typewriter, constantly passing acidic judgments over everyone else. Second son Leslie (Russell Tovey) thinks of himself as a big-time hunter, firing shots around whenever and wherever he can and always getting on everyone's nerves.

The teenage daughter fresh faced and blond haired Margo (Tamzin Merchant) thinks of nothing but boys, while the youngest 12-year-old Gerald (Eugene Simon) constantly brings home live animals to observe in cages in his room, much to the chagrin of Larry and the rest of the family - the scene where a couple of magpies take over Larry's bedroom is absolutely precious. Gerald spends most of his time spurning his mother's attempts to educate him; he'd prefer to run around the countryside, often sleeping outdoors observing nature with a cool and calculated wonderment.

Although there isn't much of a plot - most of the narrative momentum comes from moving from one villa to another - the film is never slow because of the wonderful characters, the quick writing, and the wonderful island vistas. The Durrells must not only come to terms with a new and unfamiliar culture, but they must also put up with each other's foibles, and much of the film is made up of how each family member clashes often with unforeseen results.

Into their oddball lives come various island characters who orbit around them, sometimes briefly, sometimes longer, most notable is the enigmatic Rose Beetle Man, (Dimitkis Kaberidis). Larry's whiny eccentric friends appall everyone, and Leslie shoots his gun off just once to often. Of course, it's 1935 and paradise can't last forever. War with Germany is looming and although Mom doesn't want to hear it, and neither do her unconventional flock, she realizes that eventually she must get them back to England.

Director Sheree Folkson certainly makes the most of he stunning Greek vistas, and the 1930's period detail, and one really gets the sense that the Durrell's really were living an idyllic existence. Subtly is the name of the game in this production - Staunton effectively downplays her eccentricities as do the other actors, consequently the family's odd quirks are endearing and never become irritating or grating.

My Family and Other Animals is an intelligent and comical film about the importance of family and also about tolerating one's sibling eccentricities. The Durrell family seems just content to just let it all happen and though many will wish that more of the family's mishaps had made it into the film, what is incorporated is still an affectionate and humorous treasure. Mike Leonard June 06.

MY FAMILY AND OTHER ANIMALS is based on the autobiographical novel by Gerald Durrell, the famous naturalist, animal collector and conservationist. Born in 1926, he wrote 37 books, went on numerous animal-collecting trips and hosted many television shows. He even has several species and races named after him. MY FAMILY AND OTHER ANIMALS is based on his unconventional upbringing and his eccentric family during the time they left the cold weather of England for five years of an idyllic life in Corfu during the 1930's.

This film is narrated by the adult Gerald who, at the time, is a 12-year-old nature obsessed, future scientist. He has a menagerie of insects, birds and animals. His family includes a lovely sister Margo, gun-toting brothers Leslie and the pseudo intellectual author wannabe Larry. Along with their widowed and patient mother, this unusual family love their new life. This life includes new friends, the sun, and a relaxed, laid back atmosphere.

As the author himself writes: "This is the story of a five-year sojourn that I and my family made on the Greek island of Corfu. It was originally intended to be a mildly nostalgic account of the natural history of the island, but I made a grave mistake by introducing my family into the book in the first few pages. Having got themselves on paper, they then proceeded to establish themselves and invite various friends to share the chapters. It was only with the greatest difficulty, and by exercising considerable cunning, that I managed to retain a few pages here and there which I could devote exclusively to animals..."

The cast is absolutely perfect as is the lovely Grecian landscape. The characters were all perfectly fleshed out and the story was highly enjoyable. The book that this film is taken from is a favorite of young and old in Britain. It was also a best seller in the United States. I am sorry I have never heard of the book but am glad I got to view this delightful movie!

I read Gerald Durrell's series of books on his childhood experiences on Corfu a number of years ago and again more recently, and they've lost none of their charm, wit, and thoughtfulness. This production of "My Family and Other Animals" is superb and true to the characters and the sentimental yet not maudalin memories recorded by the younger Durrell. The actors were beautifully cast. I've NEVER seen a better child actor than the one who portrays Gerry. Normally I can't bear to watch child actors, but in this case, he was completely convincing and endearing without being "cute" or phony as so many other child actors appear on film. I agree with one of the other reviewers that one wishes it were a much longer film. Indeed, one of those British sagas that go on for several episodes would have been much welcomed. The place and the time pull the viewer back to a (mythological) simpler and more genteel lifestyle, before WWII, the Cold War, the Korean conflict, Vietnam, etc. etc. when society (or we would like to think anyway) was more civilized and even strangers could be trusted. So, for a too-brief look back in time at a life we'd probably all like to have as our own, I highly recommend this film and the books they are based upon. Did I mention that it's VERY funny as well?

This version of My Family and Other Animals is but a trailer for the far better and longer version starring Hannah Gordon and Brian Blessed. Yes, I know it was produced a long time afterwards but in my opinion, apart from the wonderful Rose Beetle Man it can't compete with the Joe Waters production with its screenplay by the masterly Charles Wood (Charge of the Light Brigade, Help, Iris). Of course the latter version had more time to enjoy the animal life and more time to explore character.

I saw this movie last week on PBS. It was so delightful and funny that I watched it again a few hours later when PBS re-ran it again in the middle of the night. It was a surprisingly funny, moving, and touching film that seemed really to start no where, go no where, and end no where. In reality the events of the story took place over several years, though in the film it seems condenced into several months. Over the span of the movie the characters do not seem to age or grow, physically or mentaly, all of them that is except for Gerald who goes through a wonderful process of expolration of the natural world and finds himself along the way. There is something very special and endering in the person of the young Gerald Durrell. You feel as though you really know and love him by the end of the film, and you are sorry to see him leave. I have never seen a film quite like this, at least not one that worked so well. It is a timeless movie that almost completly ignores time.

The book has been a family favorite since childhood, so it was with some trepidation that we introduced the grandchildren to the Durrell family on DVD. Although condensed for the screen, the essence of a childhood on the island of Corfu between the wars is faithfully rendered, The characters are perfectly cast, and the whole is perfect occupation for a wet Sunday afternoon, whether you are with the kids or not.

"I adore this place"... Everything, the location, filming, acting - both by nature and actors - superb. What a pleasant surprise to the usual drivel on TV. The entire family and their antics were hilarious! Eugene Simon and Matthew Goode were bloody terrific in this movie. I especially enjoyed Imelda Staunton. We should all have childhood adventure like this! It did bring back some childhood memories at the sea. Loved the accompanying musical score as well. Laugh-out-loud moments abound in this adorable film!

...the characters look like I had pictured them in my mind, BUT, this movie sure does not do justice to the book!

Please, if you haven't already done so, go out and read it for yourself. This movie is a poor, weak copy of an absolutely smashingly wonderful hilarious book!

An 'innocent' but informed view of the world (as seen through a young boy's eyes). Nature lovers and budding scientists will identify with it immediately. Some mild humour and quite excellent acting from the 'young Gerald Durrell.' If you are into family relationships, the vacation atmosphere and like something that does not drag you down for the next 24 hours with its constant catharsis, then see this.