Film Analysis: Grow – A Polished Gourd Cultivation Adventure Filled with Perky Charm and Humor Expertise
This lively British children's film features five different writers listed for the screenplay, including two who contributed “extra content”. This could explain why the story beats unfold with such metronomic precision, and the characters feel as if they were developed hydroponically in a lab. Ironically, the setting is a family-run farm where agronomist-owner Dinah chooses organic methods after being inspired by her magical niece Charlie, who feels the feelings of plants through touch.
A Budding Relationship and a Prize Pumpkin
Having only recently met, for reasons the otherwise polished script fails to explain, Dinah and Charlie bond with one another over several seasons – which aligns with the time required to cultivate a pumpkin for the local yearly contest. Charlie aims to use the prize money to locate her mom, said to have left for become a movie star in California.
The ensemble cast is filled with charming comic performances by veteran British actors.
Notable Cameos and Antagonistic Foes
The mother character later emerges played by a familiar face, similar to Rosheuvel, has a background in hit shows. Additionally, the cast includes an eccentric gardener played by Nick Frost, who provides pumpkin-growing tips to Dinah and Charlie. At the same time, Jane Horrocks and Tim McInnerny depict the Smythe-Gherkins, the evil local elites determined to win the competition for glory alone as they lack need for the monetary reward.
- Nick Frost excels as a hippy horticulturist.
- The antagonists add comedic tension as affluent competitors.
- The youthful Dominic McLaughlin plays Charlie’s school friend Oliver.
Youthful Talent and Filmmaking Style
Though his Scottish accent seems somewhat out of place in this setting, his dry underplaying and comic timing are so skillful it’s no surprise he was chosen for a leading part in a future show. Filmmaker John McPhail keeps a lighthearted humorous vibe and doesn’t interfere with what is destined to serve as pre-bedtime entertainment for a specific seasonal period.
