Film Analysis: Grow – A Refined Pumpkin Growing Caper Filled with Perky Charm and Comedic Talent

This lively UK family movie boasts a team of five scribes credited with the script, with a pair who contributed “extra content”. This might clarify why the narrative rhythm progress with such metronomic precision, and the characters feel as if they were cultivated hydroponically in a lab. Ironically, the backdrop is a homestead farm where farm-owner Dinah, an agronomist decides to go organic motivated by her magical niece Charlie, who feels plants’ emotions by touching them.

A Growing Bond and a Contest-Winning Gourd

Having only recently met, for motives the otherwise sleek screenplay doesn't clarify, Dinah and Charlie bond with one another across a few seasons – which aligns with the duration needed to cultivate a pumpkin for the local yearly contest. Charlie aims to use the prize money to locate her mom, said to have run off to pursue stardom in the US.

The ensemble cast is filled with charming comic performances from seasoned UK performers.

Star-Studded Appearances and Villainous Rivals

The mother character later emerges played by a well-known actress, similar to Rosheuvel, has a background in hit shows. Moreover, the lineup features an eccentric gardener portrayed by Nick Frost, who provides advice on growing pumpkins for the duo. At the same time, Jane Horrocks and Tim McInnerny depict the Smythe-Gherkins, the villainous upper-class neighbors determined to win the contest purely for prestige since they don’t need the cash prize.

  • Nick Frost shines in the role of a bohemian gardener.
  • The foes add comedic tension as wealthy rivals.
  • The youthful Dominic McLaughlin plays Charlie’s school friend Oliver.

Young Actor's Skill and Filmmaking Style

While his Scottish tone seems somewhat out of place in this setting, his subtle performance and comic timing are so skillful it’s expected he was chosen for a major role in a future show. Filmmaker John McPhail maintains a lighthearted humorous vibe and stays unobtrusive with what is meant to serve as pre-bedtime entertainment for a specific seasonal period.

Grow debuts via Sky Cinema starting October 10. It is now available in theaters across Australia, and will be released in UK and US cinemas from October 17.

Kevin Baker
Kevin Baker

A passionate music enthusiast and cultural commentator with a knack for uncovering hidden gems in the arts scene.