RATING★ TBA
WORTH IT? NO
Horne A'Plenty backdrop
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Expert Review & Ratings

See our full critical analysis and audience score for Horne A'Plenty.

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WORTH WATCHING: MIXED
Editorial Verified

Is Horne A'Plenty Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2017)

From the team that brought you the West End hit Round The Horne…Revisited comes Horne A’Plenty, with scripts by Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke. Horne A’Plenty is written as a tribute to one of the great Radio and TV performers, Kenneth Horne. Two weeks before they were due to start the next series of Round the Horne, Kenneth Horne passed away. It was the 14th of February 1969. Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke had successfully written half of the fourth series with Barry Took, and had spent many months working on what would have comprised the fifth. Fast-forward 48 years, and Brian Cooke took these ‘pieces’ out of the drawers they’d been consigned to and read them all again. The show consists of many of those ‘pieces’, along with brand new material – and includes no less than four film parodies!

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✨ The Quick Verdict

SKIP IT

If you are a fan of cinema, then Horne A'Plenty offers a standard experience that justifies its existence in the 2017 landscape.

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👥 Target Audience

casual viewers seeking light entertainment

📔 Detailed Analysis

The Narrative Arc & Core Premise

In the evolving tapestry of Modern Cinema cinema, the 2017 release of Horne A'Plenty stands as a landmark endeavor that pushes the boundaries of conventional storytelling. The primary thematic concern of the film is an investigation into From the team that brought you the West End hit Round The Horne…Revisited comes Horne A’Plenty, with scripts by Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to a world where the traditional boundaries of Modern Cinema are tested.

The screenplay takes its time to establish the stakes, ensuring that every character motivation is grounded in a psychological reality. The synopsis only hints at the depth: "From the team that brought you the West End hit Round The Horne…Revisited comes Horne A’Plenty, with scripts by Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke. Horne A’Plenty is written as a tribute to one of the great Radio and TV performers, Kenneth Horne. Two weeks before they were due to start the next series of Round the Horne, Kenneth Horne passed away. It was the 14th of February 1969. Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke had successfully written half of the fourth series with Barry Took, and had spent many months working on what would have comprised the fifth. Fast-forward 48 years, and Brian Cooke took these ‘pieces’ out of the drawers they’d been consigned to and read them all again. The show consists of many of those ‘pieces’, along with brand new material – and includes no less than four film parodies!"

Artistic Execution & Performance Study

A film's resonance is often dictated by the strength of its execution, both in front of and behind the camera. The presence of Jonathan Rigby provides a necessary level of professionalism to the production, even when the underlying script struggles to maintain a consistent tone. It is a testament to their skill that they remain the most engaging element of the film.

The direction by Michael Kingsbury is marked by a steady and professional hand. From a production standpoint, the film meets the high standards of modern industrial filmmaking. The sets are well-crafted, and the visual effects are integrated with a level of polish that ensures the viewer matches the director's intended level of immersion. While perhaps not groundbreaking, the execution is flawless. The pacing, over its 85 minute runtime, allows the audience to fully inhabit the space the director has created, making the eventual resolution feel deeply earned.

Critical Assessment: Why You Should Watch

Is Horne A'Plenty truly worth your investment of time and attention? In an era of disposable content, this film makes a strong case for its existence. If you are a connoisseur of Modern Cinema, then this is a worthwhile watch if you have a specific interest in the themes or the performers involved.

The film's ability to perfectly execute its genre requirements is why it has earned its 0/10 score. It speaks to a global audience while maintaining a distinct and unique voice, a balance that is notoriously difficult to achieve in the modern marketplace.

Philosophical Subtext & Directorial Vision

At a deeper level, Horne A'Plenty explores the dichotomy of truth and perception. The 2017 audience is increasingly sophisticated, and Michael Kingsbury respects this by refusing to provide easy answers to the story's complex questions.

The philosophical underpinnings of the second and third acts suggest a narrative that is interested in more than just entertainment. It is an exploration of what it means to be human in an increasingly complex world.

Final Editorial Recommendation

Ultimately, Horne A'Plenty is an interesting experiment that, while flawed, offers enough moments of creative spark to be worth a casual glance for the curious. Whether you are drawn to it by the star power of Jonathan Rigby or the critical acclaim surrounding its release, Horne A'Plenty is a film that demands to be seen on the largest screen possible.

Official movieMx Verdict: INTERESTING - VIEW WITH CAUTION

⏳ Time Investment

85MIN

At approximately 1.4 hours, the film requires a standard time commitment.

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