Lily-32 That's what it felt like. Maybe that was the intent. It wasn't too hard to fill in the blanks at times but if the story isn't a mystery or something, a viewer should have to try and fill in the blanks as often as this movie required. The toughest character to figure out was William. Was he a bum? Wasn't he? When he left how wasn't he a bum anymore? And telling the time frame was a bit difficult at times too. Oh well. It wasn't awful but I doubt I'd watch it more than once. The ending was rather predictable. Not that that's totally awful in a movie like this. You don't see a romcom with the intent of some majorly drastic plot twist.And yeah, they should give a better warning about the language. Netflix rates it PG but that is not US PS language.

nylem Horrific acting, except from all supporting actors and the baby.Richard E. Grant is just too hard to watch, not hideously bad, just hard to watch. His kitschy and formulaic approach to the character is somewhat embarrassing (and his haircut is beyond awful--where was the make-up dept anyway!!?? 1995 or not, it was hideous). Samantha Mathis definitely shouldn't be sharing any scenes with the likes of Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins, or Ian McKellan. Mathis is incredibly hard to watch as it is, then when she shares scenes with all of the above it just makes her look BEYOND FOOLISH. It was almost like watching a "scene study" exercise in acting class, where you feel incredibly sorry for the girl in the scene because she just isn't believable and is truly hard to watch. Mathis is beyond lucky to be acting opposite Dench, Atkins and McKellan. Almost as though someone pulled some "favor" to get her into this film. There are so many thousands of other talented American actresses who would have made this character so much more brilliant! What a total disaster, and tragedy of wasted celluloid. The only reason to watch this movie is for the supporting cast. For that matter, it seems that the supporting cast members were the only reason this movie could have been produced in the first place. With a terribly weak script, BAD BAD BAD lead actors, and trite resolution to the story who would sink money into this without the assurance of some real acting talent. It's truly amazing what a McKellan, Dench, and Atkins can make possible. Leave the real acting to the real actors next time! Please!

waiching liu Originally written by UK sitcom writer Tim O'Sullivan, Jack and Sarah is one of the very best British films that graced British cinema. The story begins with couple Jack and Sarah getting all loved up, Sarah then goes into labour and her husband, who panics, has to drive her to the hospital. Eventually, she gives birth to a healthy and beautiful baby daughter, much to the delight of Jack. Unfortunately, joy turns to anguish when Sarah dies during the childbirth, devastating Jack in the process. As a single parent, he faces a somewhat un daunting task of looking after his daughter, of whom he names Sarah whilst at the same time juggling his work responsibilities. Luckily for him, he meets an American woman named Amy, who earns her living as a waitress and thus, he hires her as his babysitter, much to the disapproval of Jack's mother played by Dame Judy Dench and so-called bum-turned butler played by Sir Ian McKellan. Thus, it isn't long before a romantic sub-plot involving Amy and Jack develops later on. Although the scheming Anna- Jack's boss, does go to great lengths to snake-charm her way into Jack's affections. Whilst Amy is sweet, down-to-earth and considerate, Anna comes across as rather self-centred, selfish and somewhat a nasty piece of work.The story very much centres on the relationship between Jack and Amy and the realisation that they are in love with one another, hence the transition from workers to eventual lovers. Samantha Mathis successfully manages to convey a quality in Amy that makes us want to like her and after her appearance in that awful Super Mario Brothers movie, she has redeemed herself in this movie.Jack and Sarah is a film with a very simple plot that is easy to understand, and yet its the performances by the two actors Grant and Mathis that make it a very good film overall. It's sentimental-yet still pleasing to eye, and though whilst this film deals with the issue of fatherhood and being a single parent, the romantic sub-plot involving Jack and Amy still plays an important part in the film, by means of which it implies that whilst being a single father, one doesn't have to give up hope in finding love and in falling in love with that person. Which is what happened with Jack and Amy.In all, it is well-written, well directed with a good cast and though whilst I am not a huge fan of Brit flicks, Jack and Sarah is extremely good. Highly recommended.

Brigid O Sullivan (wisewebwoman) The casting being one of them. Richard E Grant, playing Jack is the first twist, a crazy workaholic type who likes to control everything and is completely narcissistic, witness him going through labour pains at the prenatal course.Jack is extremely unlikable, so much so that his pregnant wife, in an aside, whispers to her unborn baby that single parenthood might be ahead. Shift to the childbirth and the unfortunate death of the mother. Jack dissolves into morose alcoholism and narcissistic isolation.How Jack slowly evolves into something resembling a caring human being is the crux of the story. The supporting cast is amazing - Ian Maclellan, Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins - and they add points to a movie I would have rated below a 5 without them. Samantha Mathis tries but doesn't quite engage. We never know enough about her to care, apart from her infatuation with a guy who's bonking her best friend.I understand that Stephen Rea turned down the part of Jack and I would have preferred his tired jadedness in the role. Jack has a horror-movie type mania that jolts too much at times, I would seriously be reluctant to let him alone with a baby anything. Material has been done many times, but a nice twist at the end too. The main romance was so predictable, but so are they all in movies of this type. We go to them for no surprises, just the warm, slightly cloying fuzzies at the end. 6 out of 10.