St Trinian's [DVD] [2007]

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Product Description ------------------- Modern-day reworking of the classic Ealing comedy of the 1950s. Faced with dire financial problems, St.Trinian's, the school for 'young ladies', has to somehow find the extra cash needed, or face closure from the bank. If that wasn't enough, Headmistress Camilla Fritton's (Rupert Everett) old flame Geoffrey Thwaites (Colin Firth) is now Education Minister, and he's not too impressed with the ethos of 'self-empowerment' (anarchy) practised at the school. But faced with the loss of their school, the usually ferocious St Trinian's girls decide to put aside their differences and work together to raise the cash the only way they know - by pulling off the heist of the century. .co.uk Review ------------- To some extent, the team behind the revival of St. Trinian’s were on a bit of a hiding to nothing. The old films, contextualised by a far different age, were knockabout, energetic, yet innocent comedies about the antics of a boisterous girls’ school and its inhabitants. Surprisingly though, the remake--again inspired by the Ronald Searle cartoons--manages to sidestep the bulk of the obstacles in its path, and proves itself as a likeable, entertaining comedy. The plot of St. Trinian’s is as paper-thin as you’d expect, and serves merely as a platform for the anarchic actions of the cast of characters (some hokum about stealing a picture and saving the school). And a mischievous lot they prove to be: while they don’t quite live up to the memories of the generation of St. Trinian’s students before them, the primarily young cast still attack their roles with tremendous, and infectious, gusto. And leading the cast is Rupert Everett, in an entertaining duel role at St. Trinian’s headmistress Miss Frinton and her brother, Carnaby. Joined by Colin Firth, he’s clearly having a whale of a time, and his casting process a wise decision. It’s great to see the always-wonderful Celia Imrie in there, too. St Trinian’s, as you’d expect, has plenty of problems, notably a script that relies too much on the charm of its cast to pull it through. But heck, it’s still fun, and a hard film not to enjoy. It won’t win Os, but it will put a grin on your face. --Jon Foster