An Awfully Big Adventure (1994)
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33% of critics liked it
(12 reviews) -
53% of users liked it
(4,954 ratings)
A misleading title and a different type of performance from Hugh Grant are two of the offbeat features of An Awfully Big Adventure. Virginal theatre fanatic Stella (Georgina Cates), who speaks with her dead mother by phone, joins a theatrical troupe in 1947 England headed by manipulative director… More A misleading title and a different type of performance from Hugh Grant are two of the offbeat features of An Awfully Big Adventure. Virginal theatre fanatic Stella (Georgina Cates), who speaks with her dead mother by phone, joins a theatrical troupe in 1947 England headed by manipulative director Meredith Potter (Grant). Stella quickly falls for Potter, but he doesn't return her affections, driving her into the arms of the troupe's arrogant star, P.L. O'Hara (Alan Rickman). O'Hara eventually takes Stella's virginity, although she secretly remains devoted to Potter. More secrets of the troupe are revealed at the story's climax, although nothing is really resolved to any of the characters' satisfaction. Not quite a satire and not quite a drama, An Awfully Big Adventure is occasionally mean-spirited and frequently dour, which may just be a result of its subject matter. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi
- Directed By
- Mike Newell
- Written By
- Charles Wood
- Genres
- Drama, Art House & International, Comedy
R,
- In Theaters
- Jul 21, 1995 Wide
- Studio
- New Line Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Star Hugh Grant and director Mike Newell reteam in this bitter-sweet backstage melodrama, set in Liverpool after WWII; it's a disasppointing follow-up to their smash comedy hit Four Weddings and a Funeral.
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Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Newell at his nastiest
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Strange compelling film with strong performances
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Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
Wow, is this depressing.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Alan Rickman
as P.L. O'Hara
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Hugh Grant
as Meredith Potter
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Georgina Cates
as Stella
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Alun Armstrong
as Uncle Vernon
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Peter Firth
as Bunny
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Prunella Scales
as Rose
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Agnes Bernelle
as Mrs Ackerly
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Alan Cox
as Geoffrey
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Carol Drinkwater
as Dawn Allenby
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John Drummond
as Band
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Earl Gill
as Band
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Tom Hickey
as Freddie Reynalde
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Chris Kenevey
as Band
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Pat Laffan
as Mr Harcourt
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Patti Love
as Mary Deare
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Ruth McCabe
as Grace Bird
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Brian McGrath
as Vicar
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Clive Merrison
as Desmond Fairchild
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Johnny Murphy
as One Eye
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Peter O'Farrell
as Long John Silver
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Nicola Pagett
as Dotty Blundell
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Edward Petherbridge
as St. Ives
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Hilary Reynolds
as Babs Osbourne
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Rita Tushingham
as Aunt Lily
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Brendan Conroy
as Disley
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Gerard McSorley
as George
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Willie Smith
as Empire Stage Manager
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James Frain
as John Harbour
