Ian (Flash Review)Would you allow a homeless woman, living out of a clunker of a van, to live in your driveway for an indefinite period of time? I would, if they were as funny as Chris Farley…"living in a van down by the river." Haha Thus the story revolves around a man too timid to make her leave after she has overstayed her welcome. Mainly because she is brash and bossy even within her life situation. The story felt thin as it was mainly insignificant interactions between the two of them with proper British manners so there's your humor. But there were no real significant memorable moments that drove the story along. There were some flashbacks to help paint the picture of her background but it never really had a moment that made sense as to how she ended up living this way. It had vibrant shot framing and a there was a little dual personality metaphor to show what the man was thinking and feeling compared to what he was doing by showing two of him on screen thus the movie took some chances. Not as quirky funny and bold as I had hoped.

Joe Day I took this off the shelf at my local library thinking I would enjoy Maggie Smith and a British comedy. What a disappointment. Perhaps it is the way British people are portrayed as just so nauseatingly tolerant it makes me know how the country is in the state it is in now with the social justice warriors out in full force.Here you have this woman who for all intents and purposes is nuttier than a fruitcake, she stinks too, and yet the whole town seems bent on not appearing "prejudiced" and so they go along with it to make themselves feel better - they admit this. None of the characters held my interest including the milquetoast writer who ends up with her vehicle in his driveway for years.I am all for being intrigued by the lives of those who appear lost and homeless. But this was nothing but a vanity exercise for Smith and not a very good one. I would not want to live in this neighborhood and at the rate Britain is going, who else will want to either?

MakeBelieve63 The writer doesn't want to bother with the crazy woman in the van, but his other half can not turn away a needy person. The entire neighborhood grows and evolves around the woman in the van. Back in the day, when this originally almost truly happened, people were different. People cared for people. Miss Shepherd was portrayed perfectly by Maggie Smith. I love how she blurts out lines and then follows up with a sensible statement. You can see the fear she has about her past, and the need to know in her landlords expressions. The curiosity wants you to shot out: Tell me what happened to her. Why would she live in a van for so many years?I really liked this movie.

David Johnson Sails a little close to sentimentality at times but perhaps that forgivable, a sweet story about a not so sweet lady. A great and largely true tale, Maggie Smith is magnificent and Alex Jennings very good. A special mention for Frances De La Tour and the score, both great. Why my reservations? Well not much happens which is fine, but this in turn, turns your attention to the characters and that's where TLIV misses the mark. I think the decision to cast Jennings as two Allan Benetts was a theatrical contrivance that doesn't gel cinematically. A voice over would have worked far better and elevated this good movie to great. So watch and enjoy but mark this down as a missed opportunity.