Great book shame about the film.

Rating: 3/10 (24 October 2007)

There are so many glaring flaws in this film it is hard to know where to begin. It is disjointed and lacks any sense of organic development. It fails because it tries to cram an expansive novel into a two-hour film. The romantic connection between the lead characters seems to be based on little more than a tacky and frankly uncomfortable looking shag against a bookcase. There is not enough time to flesh out their relationship and we are left with James McEvoy's cheeky but lovable Scottish lad shtick and Keira Knightley's flawless skin and Merchant Ivory method acting routine.
The action lurches to France for an inexplicably drawn out scene showing that war really isn't very nice. Laughably, Robbie ruefully explains that he couldn't be an officer because he has been in prison. So let me get this right; war is horrible, but only so far as it imperils a cheeky but lovable Scottish lad who deserves better than those hundreds of thousands of unwashed grunts dying in the service of their country!
For the pièce de résistance, they wheel out the trusty Vanessa Redgrave for another dial-a-cameo performance. Sorry, but even the great VR needs more time to create suspension of disbelief. Before you can say, "look it's what's 'er name Vanessa Redgrave" she's blasted her way through the clip-on denouement and we're into the credits. And not before time.