Gone To Seed

[Famke]

Thank you Elliexx and rueful for the reviews!

This is one I simply cannot wait to get my hands on! It sounds like a fun, quirky show...and who doesn't just love baby Roof and baby Roof's buns!?

[judypatooty]

I had my own Gone to Seed orgy this weekend. I had all 6 episodes from Netflix and watched them all. At first I watched the whole episodes, but then I found myself fast-forwarding until Rufus appeared on screen. Overall, I really didn't like the series all that much. To borrow a phrase from one of my favorite blogs (Smart b*tches, Trashy Books), the series was "craptastic!" ;D

Alison Steadman was wonderful, Jim Broadbent was wonderful, I hated that guy with the eyepatch so much I didn't even bother to remember his name. Oh, and Peter Cook can do no wrong in my book.

And then there was Rufus. No words necessary to describe what I thought of his performance.

I just hope Netflix doesn't mind that Episode #4 on Disc #2 now has a spot where it is all worn out. Obviously, someone (cough, cough) has replayed that section over and over and over again.

[peach]

Judy, I found myself doing the exact same thing. To tell you the truth I was a bit bored by it all, Peter Cook was lovely, and I did like Broadbent a whole lot, but after a while I was going batty till Ruf appeared. I did enjoy that one scene to which you refer (heh, heh).

[jloves11hr]

Hi All,

Thanks to the person who mentioned Netflex. Joined and first on my list has been Gone to Seed. I too am "reviewing" certain parts numerous times and loving it. Didn't realize he was so young when he did this. Also catching up on his other roles. Amazing Grace was on HBO last night. The first place I heard that voice and saw those eyes, have been smitten ever since.
jloves 11hr

[judypatooty]

Yes, Netflix is a wonderful treat, isn't it?

Besides that special segment of Eye Candy in Episode #4 (cough, cough), the part when Roof sings "On The Street Where You Live" is my favorite part.

(www.roofsewell.com/multimedia.htm)

[kiwidi]

I haven't seen this series yet, but I did get to see Rufus sing 'On The Street Where You Live' on YouTube. I was blown away by how well he sings.

[dippyponge]

If you like to hear him sing, he sings in Middlemarch and The Honest Cortisan as well. Really need to see Gone to seed. I am going to buy it very soon.

[jloves11hr]

Hi all,

Liked it so much will probably need to buy it.

jloves11hr

[tipou]

at last.... at very long last.... my "gone to seed" dvd set has arrived. already been through disc #1. three more eps to go.

so this is my half time comment, really.

now, it may be that i waited my dvd's for so long, or that i am crazy about any british comedy in the first place, but i am enjoying the tale. for that is it exactly, a wickedly kitsch tale extravaganza that a demented mom might tell to a very traumatized kid, wrestling, hammond organs, and ugly aged drunks included.

some of the gags are brilliant. i totally ROTFL'd over the name of the plastic surgery clinic. i will not spoil it for others though. and the use of the funeral ashes will remain a classic in the cinematic use of funeral ashes, right beside a memorable one in the movie "meet the parents".

i like how the flashback scenes are done. broadbent recreates a boyhood scene with his mom but he is all grown up and middle aged as he promises to never leave her and sits on her lap. his character is so childlike that he remains believable, even heartbreaking, as we laugh at the screenplayed joke.

acting is consciously and efficiently over the top, although i would have taken a bit less grimaces from the male leads, we got it already, they are white trash, ok, no need to explain any further. but there is no way that i can judge jim broadbent as anything else than wonderful. you just want to sit down with the chap and have a pint.

and of course, baby rufus... rolling eyes everywhere, trying to stay ahead of the game and be a good gangster-style businessman like the old man, but he is too sweet, isnt he? with his designer suits and his fresh skin and those unbelievable buns. so young and already so talented, and leaving you sighing with every one of his seductive tactic that all end up working against him. totally adorable.

alison steadman is going for the overacting ball with taste, but also with refreshing enthusiasm. she is so next door that you want to invite her for tea and advise against the awfully ugly glasses. she is so disarmingly naive and earnest that you totally get whenever baby rufus gets all tangled in his own romantic web. all heart and good will, a total lady.

yep, i like it fine...

[rueful]

Fantastic review, as always, Tipou. You always have such a precise but imaginative way of catching the essence of the actors and their performances in your descriptions (especially Rufus).

What did you think of the supernatural stuff? Were you able to accept it as just being more of the (deliberate) silliness or not?

[tipou]

that is quite a compliment, rueful, thanks.

the supernatural stuff was a vital part of the "tale"aspect of the story and so was important, however i think that they got a bit over their head about it, the effects are so evidently low budget that it is a bit awkward, and they have not found a way to totally cover that with jokes - as they do other "special effects". they should have shrugged it off as a joke, and make a better use, for example, of the ghost's unbelivable ugliness. just having her appear out of nowhere would have had its own comic effect.

but as a part of the tale, it was priceless, especially for the effects the mother's ghost has on peter cook's character, forcing him to change decisions obviously against his will, and trying to get her off his back.

[kygal]

I love Gone To Seed. The second disc was better for me...more good Rufus parts and I enjoyed his transformation. Although I did enjoy him singing. All the actors were enjoyable...I was only familiar with Peter Cook ...other than Rufus of course. I bet I have seen them in other things and have not realized it.

[rufluvr]

I just had to respond to the comment about the supernatural stuff...yes, it was a necessary component to the story, but it sure did start to irritate ME alot halfway thru the movie--hahaha--and I usually like quirky, silly, arty stuff. (Loved the quirkyness of both Cold Comfort Farm and Illuminata) But that wacky, schreeching ghost was just too much. I had to start seriously roofing through her cackling! hee hee, Oh my.
Been a while since I've seen this--should be "fresh" again since I've waited long enough. Lots of good acting in GTS, esp. Broadbent. Rufus was really great as a young man who gets his priorities straight...eventually. He played manipulative, greedy, then growing and sensitive at turns just wonderfully. A young and handsome Rufus well on his way to his even more sexy current gorgeousness. And the beautiful, perfect peaches? Well, what can one say?

[dippyponge]

I have this dvd now and I love it, although I fast forward through the none Rufus bits. I loved the fact that he was trying to be mean but he fell for her anyway, love it. When I watched Gavin and Stacey at Christmas I couldn't stop smiling whenever I saw Gavins Mum (Alison Steadman) and thinking you lucky, lucky lady

[francesca]

Jan 13, 2010 10:22:32 GMT dippyponge said:

I have this dvd now
Hi Dippy ,
You say you have a GTS Dvd now.Is it a region 2 .I have the video of it but am terrified our ancient video player will break down , Have been looking for Reg2 but can only find reg1