It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

I saw this movie before reading any reviews, and I thought it was very funny. I was very surprised to see the overwhelmingly negative reviews this film received from critics.

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

This is a BBC romantic sitcom about a middle-class couple who lost contact in 1953 and are reunited by coincidence in the present day.This show is slow, dull and old-fashioned. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone under sixty years old. None of the characters are likable or interesting.There should have been a few episodes of the 1950s relationship to give the viewers better context - instead of merely briefly referring to it.

Few series actually come together with perfect casting, but, when they do ... the magic gives us a hug that we must experience as often as possible! Basically, anything that includes Judi Dench has to be a winner.The story is that of a young nurse, and a soldier, that meet, fall in love, and due to a lost letter ... after the soldier is shipped off to Korea ... they lose each other for thirty years. The opening of the series touches one's heartstrings and plucks a most brilliant chorus of intrigue. The characters of Lionel and Jean go from surprise, to smiles, to confusion, to jealousy, to even becoming a couple of snapping turtles ... and it is far too obvious that they were meant to be together ... sooner or later! The acting is superb, all around. The writing/scripting is top grade, and it was nice to see that the two characters did not fall into that old parody of "I Remember It Well!" They actually do remember it well! Moira Brooker was wonderful as Jean's daughter, and the only criticism would be that her opening hairstyle did not last ... lots of waves flowing in the air. Changing it to straight and rather lifeless was not on! However, there are no criticisms on her acting.Jenny Funnell plays the part of Sandy, Jean's secretary. She also had problems with changing hairstyles. Her look is quite Sprite-ish, much like Goldie Hawn's beginnings. A little longer in the back would have been a slight improvement ... too attractive to have much of her face hidden by her hair. Here also I have no complaints about her acting. As with Moira, she too was an instant delight.Philip Bretherton plays Alistair Deacon ... wealthy, cocky, and slightly irritating. One wonders if this was no type-casting, he was a little too comfortable in the part. He did have a bit of a problem trying to play the rich man becoming a poor man scenes ... was nowhere near as believable! There is also a particular area of his face that should never have gotten a close-up! That part couldn't possibly have a facial blemish or two! It just couldn't happen! The series is filled with laughs, and unpredictability's ... which is what makes a successful series ... much like "Are You Being Served"! I purchased the complete DVD set ... however, if you are planning to buy the set, be ready to discover that Warner Bros. totally messed up the order of the Episodes! And trying to get them into their proper places is maddening! DVD placements should be ... 1&2 gray and 1&2 brown, are 1992 and 1993 ... 3 and 3, are 1994 A&B ... 4 and 4, are 1995 A&B. The second folder is correct.I shall enjoy this set as time goes by for me too.

"As Time Goes By" is heir to the finest tradition of British situation comedy: fully realised characters (Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer are terrific as the couple who find each other again in late middle age), scintillating dialogue, understated, witty humour and the kind of self deprecating irony that never spills over into bleakness or cynicism. And like another well-loved comedy, "Fraiser", it enshrines the bonds of family, always in the subtlest of ways. Add to that the pace (gentle and modulated) and the fine supporting cast and you have a show that is a delight to watch. It is also ultimately what it says it is -- a musing about time: time lost, time re-gained, and the power of memory.

I've just watched the "reunion" show, the newest episode of the series, made in early 2005. Judi Dench in an interview said that it was the enthusiasm of the American audience that convinced the cast and creators to continue the series.And why? Why do we like, even love, this show so much? First, the deft, brilliant writing, the believable situations and character interactions. It's just that the laughs come from situations that all of us can recognize. He never will answer a ringing telephone, which drives her crazy; she just can't fill the dishwasher properly, in his opinion,and that drives him bananas. We recognize this in our own situations, our own relationships. And don't count out the romance, the idea that two people lose track of each other (it turns out, due to a misunderstanding!) and, after 38 years apart, fall in love all over again. Don't misunderstand: this is a sex comedy, a sexy show! But it's not in your face, it's just presented as a delicious part of life.Then of course it's the way British actors play comedy, always with style and panache, never going for cheap laughs, never overstated or self-indulgent. No smutty asides and improvisations, either, as "Method" trained American actors tend to do, on television, stage and film, when they try to play comedy. There's a wonderful sense of generosity in the playing, too: "We're doing this for YOU, the audience, not just for ourselves. Isn't it fun?" The newest episodes introduced a new character and left the door open for further developments. I look forward to more!