Load of rubbish!!

Am I Missing Something?

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

I recommend watching this movie. It seems to have gone under the radar somewhat which is a shame as its a very enjoyable watch and full of good humour. It has a star cast and thus I cant understand why its not a well known film. The story is set in the late Victorian period and is just typically English in its comedy. The script is well written and the sets and costumes are excellent. The subject material is a little saucy at times but that's only to be expected considering the subject the film is covering. The actors performance's all work extremely well on screen and draw you in to the plot line. Its well worth a good night in front of the TV with friends.

Hysteria is a fun film, creatively retelling the invention of personal vibrators for women (with plenty of historical liberties). The movie is filled with somewhat cleverly played word games and endless innuendos. Tanya Wexler's film does aim to present anything in a true-to-life manner. The director does take aim at some of the issues facing the development of medicine and women's rights, but plays much off it for laughs or rather simple dramatic tension. Wexler's story telling is light and fun, though it also seems rushed, spending little time on developing characters, motives, or even the plot. One disappointment was Rupert Everett who feels as if he slept walked through his performance. The best trait of the film is that it is selfaware, never attempting to sell itself as anything more than what it is, playing gleefully along with its audience. In the end, Hysteria was an enjoyable movie for an evening looking for a lighthearted affair.

In short, a wonderful, entertaining romp of a period romcom, set at a crucial time in the evolution of modern medicine, the genesis of the telephone and the increase in electrical appliances in general. Interesting, well scripted and portrayed with a great ensemble cast including the fabulous Rupert Everett and Jonanthan Pryce and the luminous and hugely talented Maggie Gyllenhaal. Some familiar faces from British stage and screen; Ashley Jensen, the underused Sheridan Smith and the wonderful Gemma Jones (love her in Much Ado About Nothing) all come together to make something really special. Hugh Dancy is great as the determined and ethical lead, Dr Mortime Granville, shocked at the behind the times medical practices going on in all the big Hospitals who haven't yet heard of handwashing, germs or sterile-dressings and he tries to find a place where his medicine will be worthwhile. At this time 'hysteria' was the main diagnosis for women attending a physician and it is these misdiagnosed women he gains employment treating with a - RSI inducing - 'hands on approach.' There is more to this film than orgasms (*ahem* paroxysms) for rich ladies, and the invention of the vibrator, there is also a social commentary of the time, examples of historical shortsightedness of male-dominated medicine in the late 1800s and the treatment of women in general. Not just a funny film (and it is genuinely funny) but also with something to say, not vacuous or pointless, it really is intelligent humour and the kind of film I'm sure you would gain more from on a second (or third) viewing and it wouldn't be less entertaining on repetition. One of the most feel-good genuinely enjoyable comedies I've seen in a while.

Hysteria is a great idea for a movie. I mean, a movie about the invention of the vibrator? Thank you! I wanted to know how that came about (not sarcasm) but the execution was a bit wanting. The actors selected were great, each with capable acting abilities and each with commendable works in the past, but here together they had no chemistry, at least romantic chemistry. The whole time I felt that they were playing brother and sister.Maggie Gyllenhal's character was a wild and untamed woman with a brain (for the time) and Hugh Dancy's character was the somewhat uptight doctor who believed in modern medicine. The script wasn't all there, it felt unexplained at some points and overly used in other areas. (as in an over use of speech between characters who seem as if they cannot convey thought with eyes or facial expressions alone.) But strangely you want to know these characters, you root for what they want for the world and you believe that in what they say and in their beliefs. The movie is not exciting but it is new and smart in some ways. You really see the funny and silly sides of medicine. The movie isn't as good as it could have been, but it doesn't quite fall flat either. It's worth a watch so don't write it off.