one of the most overrated films of recent years....

Rating: 5/10 (5 April 2011)

Oh dear, oh dear....so many votes, so many Oscars, it makes me wonder what has happened to our sense of values. This is one of the most over-hyped films of recent years. Talk about cream cakes and royal stories, it is enough to make me think a royal wedding is in the offing...mmm, could be a film there. The story of George VI and his stammer is well known but was it enough for a film which stretched like elastic until it rebounded. I believe this was a typical 'English' film which played to the 'soft centre'of English sentiment. Was there a moral to this story? George VI was a decent man? His character was moulded by his family history ? He triumphed over adversity ? Nothing special there. And as for the acting, well that was pretty ordinary . In short this film doesn't rank high. One really wonders how it would have rated without the syrupy press reaction and the topicality of the latest royal wedding party. No, if you want to see this story as it should be told, turn to the television version ( of the same name ) black and white archive footage and a non-dressed up commentary. Much better by far.