Wah-Wah on DVD (2006)

SAI81 from Tonbridge [Highly rated reviewer] , 13/08/2006

Actor Richard E Grant has attracted an excellent cast to his heavily autobiographical directorial debut but the end result is something of a mixed bag.

Set in Swaziland at the end of empire Wah Wah has a mass of plot for a 100 minute film; alcoholism, divorce, cancer, first love, the end of empire and an amateur production of Camelot all feature. It's this that most hurts the film; Grant has so many strands that none ever really feel fully fleshed out (Gabriel Byrne's alcoholism arrives out of nowhere and then vanishes with some pills).

However Wah Wah is a charming film and has much to recommend it. The adult cast are excellent. Miranda Richardson puts in a strong, if brief, showing as Byrne's first wife and Byrne is also excellent but Emily Watson, who flounces in about 20 minutes in as the brassy American Ruby (Byrne's second wife) is inspired, complete with authentic accent Watson acts everyone else off the screen. Everyone that is but Celia Imrie, whose incredibly stuck up, uproariously funny, Lady Riva makes you wish she was more than a cameo.

Unfortunately Nicholas Hoult (as Grant's alter ego) still can't act. He's taller now but otherwise is still the vacant mannequin of About A Boy. Camelot and a budding romance (the other side of which is the director's daughter Olivia) are all but brushed aside and both are missed as they would add depth to Ralph's life outside his family which is sorely needed.

I'll certainly look at Wah Wah again on dvd, there's lots to admire, not least Grant's direction which really is one of the stars of the film, and i hope there will be copious deleted scenes as this feels like an abbreviated version of a better film

  20 out of 21 people found this review helpful

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michael wade from london [Highly rated reviewer] , 28/01/2007

Re-living your life in a book is one thing, but doing it on screen where actors play your own history before your very eyes, all shot in the very places the events actually took place, well that could get a bit spooky.

Richard E Grant makes a fine job of calling on the emotions when they help and tamping them down where they don't, ably assisted by a first rate cast.

Also starring Swaziland.

If you want the real tear jerker stuff, watch the accompanying documentary - everyone reckons the experience was 'life changing'. I wouldn't say the film itself reaches that level, but it is a sensitive and moving film that deerves viewing.

  8 out of 8 people found this review helpful

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A customer from East Sussex , 17/12/2006

When I chose to see this movie, I did not have any real expectations, other than a quiet night in. However this movie got my undivided attention quickly and I was absorbed. It had laughter and sorrow, it presented an array of characters so I never got bored with any of them. I would recommend this movie.

  7 out of 7 people found this review helpful

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A customer from leeds, england , 31/03/2007

I switched this off half way through. It was very dull and i would not recommend it.

  6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

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MisterG from chester [Highly rated reviewer] , 20/04/2008

Why is Richard E Grant appalling in anything other than Withnail?

Ok he's not in this, as he directed and wrote it and then packaged it off as a last days of colonial Swaziland story which manages to avoid all political content.

Instead we are given tea parties and relationship problems between wholly unsympathetic characters.

See something realistic if you want Africa... Tsotsi, Goodbye Bafana, Shooting Dogs all have real history and real heart.

  3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

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A customer from bucks , 26/04/2007

even for my love of julie walters, just couldnt get into this film. the kid is a spoiled brat and it was hard to see past that. didnt finish the film.

  3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

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