Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Having read "Diana's Story" and "Lost for Words", both by Deric Longden, plus some of his cat books, I was eager to see "Wide-Eyed and Legless", the TV film made from those two books, but had to order it from the US, under the title "The Wedding Gift". I didn't really get the change of title until I gave it some thought, and then from watching the film it was obvious why they chose this title. (Presumably copyright problems with Andy Fairweather-Low's song?)Anyway, I was in floods of tears by the time Diana bravely made herself walk down the aisle at her son's wedding, and by the time it came to the bathroom scene I could hardly breathe.Jim Broadbent and Julie Walters make a good fist of their respective roles as Deric and Diana, supported by an excellent cast, and of course some superb writing by both Deric and Jack Rosenthal (a seasoned British dramatist).

Showing as The Wedding Gift on Showtime Women currently. I was only able to find this by searching for Jim Broadbent knowing his character name and a rough time of when it was released. Just one year off from what it is being marketed as by Showtime. Although a bit offbeat, the story was compelling and the actors did well in making it believable. This is not the first Series Episode to take on a new life as a TV Movie. Often Movies are made by editing several Episodes into a a Movie size film. When Episodes are chopped into Movies their origins become obscure, as these often make no mention of the Series they were pulled from. Screen One seems to have planned this for its future with ninety minute episodes of different stories and actors for each.

One of Jack Rosenthal's most effective dramas. This is a beautiful story of the love of two people, one with a mystery illness, the other with an ailing business. Julie Walters and Jim Broadbent play the roles to perfection, supported by an excellent cast, starring the indomitable Thora Hird as Broadbent's batty mum. The direction by Richard Loncraine switches from domestic comedy to hospital drama effortlessly, making this one of the most rewarding 90 minutes you are ever likely to see on the TV. You will wince as Julie Walters struggles to thread a needle - and applaud as she tries to walk down the aisle at her son's wedding. A consummate performance by a great actress.

"The Wedding Gift" tells of a heroic couple's coming to grips with a crippling disease which slowly erodes the wife's health and stumps medical professionals. Believing her death to be imminent and out of love for her husband, the wife prearranges a replacement for herself. "TWG" is a well assembled, scripted, and acted British film with the look of an 8mm shoot based on a true story of a victim of a mysterious affliction which has since come to be known as chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome. Not a downer flick, "TWG" is full of life and humor and an excellent watch for anyone, especially those with an affinity for British films.