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The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain
This affable slice of British whimsy from writer-director Christopher Monger stars Hugh Grant as English cartographer Reg Anson, charged with making strategical maps of Wales during World War I. The Welsh are naturally suspicious of Englishmen, but become flat-out indignant when Anson determines that Ffynnon Garw, hailed by the locals as "the first mountain inside Wales," is too short for such a designation. At only 984 feet above sea level, Ffynnon Garw is 16 feet short of mountain status and is, technically, simply a tall hill. This great English affront to Welsh pride provokes pub owner Morgan the Goat (Colm Meany) to rally the townspeople — they delay Anson's exit and conspire to add another 20 feet of soil and sod to Ffynnon Garw. Grant is pleasant, the pace and tone are relaxed, and Monger's touch is slight and a bit slow, but amusing, following lazily in the light, feel-good footsteps of Scottish filmmaker Bill Forsyth. Also with Tara Fitzgerald. Presented in 2.35:1 widescreen and 2.0 Dolby Surround. Trailer, textual supplements. Keep-case.
—Gregory P. Dorr
