Simply A Masterpiece

Sadly Over-hyped

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

The first series was ok, a bit beige but ok. The second series on the other hand is so boring and frustrating it makes you want to throw something at the TV. Cathy, with her perpetual beatific smile which was endearing in the first series but just irritating in the second, still lets everyone walk all over her, including her hapless son and his girlfriend, and Michael still can't string more than three words together. Peter Mullan here is a criminal waste of a good actor, but I'm not sure how soon I can stomach him again after this snoozefest. The dialogue bears no resemblance to real life - I have never met a 60-year old woman who is so dull and so much of a door mat as Cathy, or a group of people so utterly oblivious to the dynamics around them. The only saving grace is Cathy's grumpy father-in-law who as a few genuinly funny gags, but apart from that it is just all too bland and annoying. On the whole, I feel like I have been robbed of a couple of hours that I could have spent watching paint dry. If you want a funny sitcom about a dysfunctional group of people, try Two Doors Down (which also has a Cathy-like character, but at least she gets a chance to roar every once in a while). I can't spoilt it for you, because I just can't put myself through the last two episodes. Maybe Cathy and Michael will get it on, maybe not. Who cares.

And that's why I'm still watching Mum. It's cringe-worthy, unbearably so. But, now that I've decided to only focus on your character Cathy and on Michael, and let all the other annoyances slide by (they're all a bit too broadly painted), I think I'm going to enjoy the rest of the series 2 episodes. This said, I'm already looking forward to your next job.

I also missed this the first time around and, after catching a promo to the second series (which looked like something I would enjoy), I quickly caught up on the first series over the course of last w/end courtesy of iPlayer, and I am hooked. Reminiscent of the Detectorists in that the comedy is subtle and underplayed. The characters are well written and the acting is top-notch. You really feel as though you're eavesdropping on a real suburban set-up in Chingford.Would recommend to any fan of Damned or Detectorists.

This is one of the worst sitcoms I've ever seen - and I've seen loads. This is much more of a drama than a comedy. The only character who provides any interest or humour is the son's girlfriend - and she's annoying. The humour involving her is the only reason that I haven't given this 1 out of 10. This show should be about a family coming together in strength at a time of bereavement, but none of the characters really care about each other. With the exception of the son's gf, they're a boring bunch who are tiresome to watch. The protagonist is a cold, aloof, patronising and unlikeable character who is neither motherly nor friendly. The theme tune is intensely annoying, as well as inappropriate. The song is about a woman going away on holiday or moving away. The show is about a recently widowed woman who doesn't go anywhere.There were missed opportunities to make this funny. For example, there's a scene in which the son and his gf are enjoying noisy sex upstairs whilst the rest of the characters are sitting downstairs. I was expecting them to say funny things to each other about it - and perhaps to the horny couple when they come downstairs. However, no- one said anything about it - they just all pretended that they couldn't hear the loud lovemaking.