First Take: Swallows and Amazons- brace yourselves, there be a rant cometh

SYPNOSIS- Four children dream of an escape from the tedium of a summer holiday in the Lake District with their mother. When finally given permission to camp on their own on a remote island in the middle of a vast lake, they are overjoyed. But when they get there they discover they may not be alone…

Well, the 1974 adaptation of Arthur Ransome’s book has certainly stood the test of time. It’s a beloved book, and as is the case with many pieces of late 70’s cinema, the time has come to remake it. This new version, even with all the positive critical reception it has received, failed to keep me engaged for its 96 minute running time.

The main problem I had with it lies within the script. Of course, this is a family film, but the whole idea of adventure wasn’t as evident as the trailers had made out. There are also some very intriguing presentations of children taking adult roles, possibly resulting in a safe PG certificate from the BBFC. Also, there are some major pacing issues, particularly in the first act as there is emphasis on character development over narrative progression, something which is a bad move in my eyes considering that this is aimed at children and families. However, the performances certainly make up for these shortcomings, as a brilliant cast featuring Rafe Spall, Kelly Macdonald and Andrew Scott provide some light relief. Also, the younger talents (who really do steal the show) are certainly names to look out for in the future. The production design and the cinematography is excellent, but the issues with the script and direction made it a tricky film to watch, especially with a relatively quiet audience.

THE VERDICT

Swallows and Amazons had all the potential to be a big hit based on the promotional materials, but after opening at 8th at the UK box office, the final product had me leaving screen 2 uttering the most damning words you can say as a critic: I’m not angry, I’m just very disappointed. I certainly needed another cup of Earl Grey to try and vent my disappointment for this one.

RATING: 3/5