Gregory's Two Girls (1999) DVD Reviews

Starring	John Gordon Sinclair, Carly McKinnon, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Dougray Scott
Director	Bill Forsyth
Genres	Comedy

Critics' reviews (2) of Gregory's Two Girls
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Bill Forsyth has clearly not forgiven Hollywood for his career eclipse, judging by the strong anti-American flavour that laces this sequel to his best-known film. There's still plenty of his quirky observational humour, though, which provides the perfect platform for John Gordon-Sinclair to give a genial performance of political awareness, social ineptitude and sexual timidity. Now a teacher at his old school, Gregory wavers between a crush on fifth-former Carly McKinnon and the advances of hot-blooded colleague, Maria Doyle Kennedy. Alas, the plot to expose local industrialist Dougray Scott's part in Third World repression is barely credible and takes an age to resolve. Hardly vintage Forsyth, but it's good to have him back.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
While this may be a belated sequel to Gregory's Girl, it's most certainly not a reprise. Gregory (Gordon-Sinclair) is... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Gregory's Two Girls
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Nothing like the original!

This film is quite simply awful. It has none of the quirky charm of the original film and is frankly not funny.

A real missed opportunity to bring us up to date with the characters. What was the point of making it?
- - Jon from Ashford, Kent.
  - Posted 21 Apr 2004 17:52
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Apparently average

I rented this for someone else who adores the first film. He said this was good but nowhere near close to the classic original. I didnt bother to watch it on his review as I too really like the first film - always a bit dodgy to do a sequel so long after!
- - A customer from Ripley, Surrey
  - Posted 13 Mar 2006 18:25
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful

Dreadful!

Absolutely awful film. Will have to agree with the comments made below by Jon.

I have no idea why they even bothered making this film. Totally pointless.
- - A customer from Nottingham, England
  - Posted 22 Jul 2004 07:34
Most recent members' reviews (2) of Gregory's Two Girls
View all
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Apparently average

I rented this for someone else who adores the first film. He said this was good but nowhere near close to the classic original. I didnt bother to watch it on his review as I too really like the first film - always a bit dodgy to do a sequel so long after!
- - A customer from Ripley, Surrey
  - Posted 13 Mar 2006 18:25
Customer Review

A lot of fans of the first Gregory's girl film have obviously felt dissapointed with this sequal. On the surface this film has little or no relation to the first; Gregory says 'Bella Bella' a few times just to remind us who he is or was, but anyone expecting another light, sweet and quirky homage to adolescent love will understandably be dissapointed. On the other hand, this is the film that shows what happened when Dee Hepburn's 'modern girl' grew up and Blair and his babes began to lead us into a better world. Its about idealism being crushed by spite and grubby motivations, about the realisation that innocence can only be real if its a fantasy. This is comedy so dark its sometimes hard to see the humor, although a couple of scenes, in particular the 'badger/beaver' set piece, are quite hilarious. The plot is diffused and somewhat plodding, yet it remains a very good film, cynical and wiser, this is the sequel to Gregory's Girl that we all deserved.
- - A customer from UK
  - Posted 23 Jun 2008 15:22

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Nothing like the original!

This film is quite simply awful. It has none of the quirky charm of the original film and is frankly not funny.

A real missed opportunity to bring us up to date with the characters. What was the point of making it?
- - Jon from Ashford, Kent.
  - Posted 21 Apr 2004 17:52
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Apparently average

I rented this for someone else who adores the first film. He said this was good but nowhere near close to the classic original. I didnt bother to watch it on his review as I too really like the first film - always a bit dodgy to do a sequel so long after!
- - A customer from Ripley, Surrey
  - Posted 13 Mar 2006 18:25
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful

Dreadful!

Absolutely awful film. Will have to agree with the comments made below by Jon.

I have no idea why they even bothered making this film. Totally pointless.
- - A customer from Nottingham, England
  - Posted 22 Jul 2004 07:34
Dispiriting

Fans of the original Gregory's Girl may have been expecting a similarly charming sequel, but I'm afraid this isn't the one. Gregory's now grown up, but still dreams of schoolgirl footballers; they are still unattainable, but for entirely different reasons. Back then, we could sympathise with his clumsiness; now, he's just too seedy to make you care.

The plot makes a lukewarm attempt to tackle some big intrigue - dodgy dealings with foreign secret services - but the good guys are so weedy there is a credibility gap which just can't be filled.

And so it proves - the rather baffling ending leaves you rather hoping that, minutes later, Gregory and his chums are rounded up and given a good talking to by the local magistrate.
- - IH from Cambridge, England
  - Posted 05 Jul 2005 20:45
i'm in this hehe!!!

this film isnt the best, i prefer the original. but the reason i gave it 3 stars is just that this was filmed in my old high school and the students at the school could be extra's. as i watched i saw a lot of my frinds which was really kool but then i cought a very quick glimps of myself. i couldnt believe it. as for the film though i would just recoment watching the original.
- - A customer from cumbernauld
  - Posted 05 Oct 2006 16:01
Gregory raises more wry smiles

A well crafted Bill Forsyth piece following up his 1981 success 'Gregory's Girl' with plenty of fresh humour.

John Sinclair just about manages the transmutation from pupil to thirty-something angst-ridden teacher of English. Both his new 'girls' are delightful in their own ways - Frances is well played by newcomer Carly McKinnon and Maria Kennedy makes a great Bel.

There are memorable cameo roles for the headteacher, and the young co-conspirators and idealists Doug and Dimitri.

Very watchable with some nice touches.

/ENDS
- - RikkiB from Herts
  - Posted 01 Jan 2004 09:37
Not a good as the original but still has charm

I first saw the original Gregory’s girl a few years ago when I was about 15 and loved it instantly. When I saw that a sequel had come out I was therefore looking forward enormously to seeing it.

However, I was not as taken with this new version. I found it slightly difficult to believe in Gregory, one moment a respected school teacher and then another moment a reversion back into a seventeen year old.

However, there are some moments in the film that are just great, such as the meeting with his sister and her American boyfriend.

This is a film though, that if you saw the original, you should watch if only to make up your own mind
- - sazzle from Stirlingshire
  - Posted 27 Jan 2004 14:19
Flabbergasted by the critics!

Did the critics watch another film? Are they right-wing extremists (apologists for Bush, ExxonMobil, Cheney, Blair, BAE etc.), taken aback by the political content of this extremely relevant, witty and charming film? I don't recognise this entertaining, moving and -- yes -- even inspiring film in their remarks. Sell your shares in arms companies or at least come clean about your motivation, boys! The witty demolition of anti-American prejudices alone should have earned your accolades, surely?
- - R. Eric Swanepoel from Edinburgh, Scotland
  - Posted 06 Jan 2007 22:24
utter nonsense

i rented this as i am a big fan of the original gregorys girl.

this film has NOTHING to do with either the origianl or reality.

as it stands the film has been on for 108 minutes and it has gone from nowhere to totally lost.

i can only assume that john gordon sinclair needed the money (however he was in the uk remake of that us sitcom that was even worse than the original) but as for doug ray scott?

avoid at all costs.

in fact it has just finished and the ending is nowhere.

as I said - AVOID AT ALL COSTS! rent anything else istead!
- - A customer from scotland
  - Posted 04 Feb 2007 unknown
Customer Review

A lot of fans of the first Gregory's girl film have obviously felt dissapointed with this sequal. On the surface this film has little or no relation to the first; Gregory says 'Bella Bella' a few times just to remind us who he is or was, but anyone expecting another light, sweet and quirky homage to adolescent love will understandably be dissapointed. On the other hand, this is the film that shows what happened when Dee Hepburn's 'modern girl' grew up and Blair and his babes began to lead us into a better world. Its about idealism being crushed by spite and grubby motivations, about the realisation that innocence can only be real if its a fantasy. This is comedy so dark its sometimes hard to see the humor, although a couple of scenes, in particular the 'badger/beaver' set piece, are quite hilarious. The plot is diffused and somewhat plodding, yet it remains a very good film, cynical and wiser, this is the sequel to Gregory's Girl that we all deserved.
- - A customer from UK
  - Posted 23 Jun 2008 15:22

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Critics' reviews (2)
Bill Forsyth has clearly not forgiven Hollywood for his career eclipse, judging by the strong anti-American flavour that laces this sequel to his best-known film. There's still plenty of his quirky observational humour, though, which provides the perfect platform for John Gordon-Sinclair to give a genial performance of political awareness, social ineptitude and sexual timidity. Now a teacher at his old school, Gregory wavers between a crush on fifth-former Carly McKinnon and the advances of hot-blooded colleague, Maria Doyle Kennedy. Alas, the plot to expose local industrialist Dougray Scott's part in Third World repression is barely credible and takes an age to resolve. Hardly vintage Forsyth, but it's good to have him back.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
While this may be a belated sequel to Gregory's Girl, it's most certainly not a reprise. Gregory (Gordon-Sinclair) is... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008