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Rowan Atkinson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Maggie Smith, Patrick Swayze, Tamsin Egerton ... see more see more... , Toby Parkes , Liz Smith , Emilia Fox , James Booth , Patrick Monckton , Rowley Irlam , Vivienne Moore , Murray McArthur , Andrew S. W. Thomas , Morgan Gower , Rupert Simonian , Alex MacQueen , Paul Viragh , Anthony Denham , Roger Hammond , Thomas D. Jones , Jack Ryan , Nazim Kourgli , Jack Zimmerman , Terry Alderton , David Schaal , Chrissie Cotterill , Rory Dorling , James Galloway , Max Murley , Kelly

Niall Johnson's comedy Keeping Mum concerns the family of a vicar who are beset by a variety of problems. Reverend Walter Goodfellow (Rowan Atkinson) is a well-meaning but hapless religious figure in ... read more read more...his town. His son, Petey, is a wimp, forever terrorized at school. His daughter, Holly, enjoys the company of a variety of different boyfriends. Wife Gloria (Kristin Scott Thomas) has had enough of her husband and is considering leaving him for a golf teacher (Patrick Swayze). The family starts to come back together after hiring housekeeper Grace (Maggie Smith), a woman who knows a thing or two about keeping secrets. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Flixster Users

73% liked it

21,430 ratings

Critics

56% liked it

85 critics

R, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: Niall Johnson

Release Date: September 15, 2006

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DVD Release Date: February 20, 2007

Stats: 1,992 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,992)

  • FiLmCrAzY
    May 1, 2010
    FiLmCrAzY
    i love this movie, i find it so funny and its the best british comedy of the year!!
    i love the cast and i love the story its thoroughly entertaining!!
    Maggie smith plays a murderer who has gotten out of prison/mental facility and has come to visit her daughter but without liter... read moreally telling her daughter so shes come as a guest to look after the children!
    its a really good movie and is completely worth the watch!!
  • SirPant
    October 2, 2009
    SirPant
    I liked this film although I'm not sure it knows what it wants to be. It's both predictable and unpredictable and more dark than it is funny. Maybe I was lead astray by the poster and the choice of actors. It was refreshing in its unpredictable moments but I felt there was very l... read moreittle pay off at the end. I found the last 'Twist' in the story line a bit lazy, a bit too dark and ultimately disappointing. Highlights were the script, direction and Liz & Maggie Smith.
  • deano
    July 20, 2009
    deano
    Highly entertaining, good British black comedy. Rowan Atkinson, Maggie Smith, Kirstin Scott Thomas and the rest of the cast are perfect. This is the most understated I have ever seen Atkinson, and marks an interesting evolution for him. Smith is absolutely superb as the straight ... read moreactress playing the clowning criminal.
  • Redlats
    June 8, 2009
    Redlats
    British black comedy. Funny seeing Rowan Atkinson in a non-Mr. Bean character. I watched this film a second time and quite enjoyed it. I don't know if I caught the very last scene under the duck pond the first time I saw it.
  • ironclad1609
    May 17, 2009
    ironclad1609
    This dark humored British comedy about a murdering, kind hearted housekeeper lady lives off its really convincing cast. Especially Patrick Swayze as sleazy golf teacher proves once again that he is not taking himself too seriously. The script successfully balances between rural f... read moreamily comedy and the really black humored murders without scaring anyone off. That's typically British in each and every regard but could have used a little more bite, after all. As it is, the movie is never boring and rather likable. It just doesn't really excite you or make you piss yourself with laughter. Decent, but probably easily forgotten.
  • Gx7
    March 1, 2009
    Gx7
  • binky013
    June 18, 2008
    binky013
    Broccolli . . .

    Just watched this darkly clever twist on the Mary Poppins story twice, and I've plenty to say, in no particular rank order.

    1. Kristin Scott-Thomas fans will not want to miss this; it's some of her best work ever.

    2. I got into an extended discussion

    ... read more last week with some friends about Rowan Atkinson. I was actively recruiting potential viewers for one of my newly discovered favorites, Mr. Bean's Holiday -- I found I was not exactly preaching to the choir. We agreed on one thing, however, I think: Atkinson, especially as the Bean character, may finally be an acquired taste. I must say that seeing him play the straight man in this movie is quite a different experience than seeing him play the "straight man" as Bean. This character is a little more of this world, if you know what I mean. Thinking about him way back in the Black Adder BBC series days, I remember that there were times, especially toward the end of the series, where he played a character who was more couched in the dramatic than in the comic arena. There are times in this movie even, as when he gives his speech to the convention of ministers, that the tone shifts decidedly from comic to dramatic. I would love, if it exists, to see Atkinson in a pure dramatic role. Know of any? Please suggest one. If no such film does in fact exist, then I would love for him to do one. He really is a consummate actor. Flixsters, it takes a lot for me to put a living actor on my all-time favorite list, but I'm going to do it with Atkinson -- on faith. What a talent.

    3. And since I'm doing it with Atkinson, I must say that I'm going to take the plunge and put Maggie Smith on that list as well. Over the past few years I've become so used to seeing her in the Harry Potter movies that it's almost Twilight Zone strange to see her in anything else. Seeing her here, I'm reminded of how great she is and how she has proved her amazing ability and range time and again over the years.

    If you're at all drawn to British humor or to dark comedy in general, this one may be a good choice. There are no fireworks, but there is plenty of just plain great actor-to-actor interaction amidst the mayhem.
  • rezpatriot
    January 18, 2008
    rezpatriot
    Well if you want to watch this film then you will enjoy it, its humourus and just a bit dull. Then how about watching a chapter a day?
  • SilentWarProductions2009
    December 4, 2007
    SilentWarProductions2009
    Directed by: Niall Johnson.
    Starring: Maggie Smith, Rowan Atkinson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Patrick Swayze.

    As always, British comedy shines through as one of the best you can get and this film does what any British comedy does best and that is to draw ... read moreyou into its world and its characters and make you laugh endlessly.

    The story follows a small family in a small town who all have there own little problems, until one day, a very quirky, charming and very mysterious women turns up and changes there lives forever. Theres more to it than that but I won't ruin it for you. Crafty plotting, brilliant humour and sharp dialogue, it focuses on the characteristics of these charming characters and draws its humour from that. Maggie Smith is very much the highlight of this film, in a very different role but one of her best in many years, quirky, funny and charming, a very powerful actress in any role she tackles.

    This film is extremely overlooked and it shouldn't be, it is British comedy at its best in years, charming, funny, quirky, mysterious, thrilling and with a twist that came as one hell of a surprise to me, it needs to be seen.
  • Deano78
    August 13, 2007
    Deano78
    A pretty good, quirky, dark humoured UK film. The main leads all do well and there are some funny scenes. Maybe not to all tastes though.

View All Keeping Mum Reviews

Critic Reviews

Randy Cordova
October 26, 2006
Randy Cordova, Arizona Republic

A dark comedy that isn't dark or particularly funny, Keeping Mum ends up being an exercise in heavy-handed whimsy. Full Review

Roger Moore
October 20, 2006
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

A meek little diversion, nothing more. Full Review

Robert Denerstein
October 13, 2006
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

A modest comedy that wants to be both dark and reassuring at the same time.

Lisa Kennedy
October 13, 2006
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

Bracket out the ethical concerns of making merry as the body count mysteriously rises and Keeping Mum is an endearing hoot. Full Review

Richard Roeper
October 9, 2006
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

It's probably one of the funniest films to come out of England in years. Full Review

Jeff Strickler
October 5, 2006
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Smith is an absolute delight, exuding grandmotherly warmth even as she's picking her next target.

Peter Howell
September 29, 2006
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

The few smiles the picture generates are overcome by the revulsion of some truly disgusting deeds. Full Review

Ruthe Stein
September 29, 2006
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle

It's always a treat to watch Maggie Smith up to her old scene-stealing tricks. Full Review

Kate Taylor
September 29, 2006
Kate Taylor, Globe and Mail

As we wait in anticipation and wait, and wait, what initially appears as subtle humour gradually emerges as very little humour at all. Full Review

Teresa Budasi
September 29, 2006
Teresa Budasi, Chicago Sun-Times

Smith, along with the rest of the cast, rises above and turns the thinly scripted dark comedy into an amusing and enjoyable British romp. Full Review

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Keeping Mum Trivia

  • This Ghost was a bit of a dirty dancer and insisted on keeping mum.  Answer »
  • In which movie could Patrick Swayze have been named a real sleaze bag?  Answer »
  • In What Movie Did Magie Smith play An Insane Woman Who murders people?  Answer »
  • Which female actor costars with Maggie Smith in 'Keeping Mum'?  Answer »
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