Along Came Polly, sorry, Rita (Educating Rita (DVD))

Member Name: Jess-L

Product:	Educating Rita (DVD)
Date:	14/04/04 (1757 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Witty, Entertaining

Disadvantages: None

Educating Rita is basically the story of how two people meet each other and change each others lives. It's very simple and not a lot actually goes on during the film but it's an incredibly touching, entertaining film that I can watch over and over again without getting bored!

The film revolves around Rita, played by Julie Walters, a Scouse hairdresser who is bored with her life. She is in a dead marriage to Denny, who is nice enough but just cannot understand her desire to find out who she really is. Before she starts a family with Denny, Rita decides to enrol on an Open University course and become the educated, sophisticated woman she has always wanted to be.

Her tutor is Dr Frank Bryant (Michael Caine) , a boozy, washed up man who is sick of life. His wife has left him and his girlfriend is having it off with his best friend - not the best of situations, is it? He finds Rita's bolshy enthusiasm for learning refreshing and she is amazed by his knowledge of English literature, but she cannot understand why he doesn't try to change his life for the better, like she is doing. They clash and argue but despite their differences, they understand each other and form a solid but volatile friendship.

What Frank needs is someone or something to sweep away his cynicism and bitterness and change his way of looking at life, and this comes in the form of Rita. The cracks soon start to show though; Rita is trying so hard to escape her working-class roots that it seems as though she's forgetting who she really is, and Frank's depression steadily progresses along with his drinking. He is increasingly alienated by Rita's pretentious behaviour - where is the common as muck, witty woman he first met? The meetings and phone calls becomes less frequent and it seems like the dynamic frien
dship that once worked so well has broken down.

What really makes Educating Rita work are the two main stars - Julie Walters and Michael Caine. There is no sexual chemistry at all but the pair work as friends. They are so believable and there's this familiar look in their eyes during their scenes that make you believe they are good friends in real life who know each other well. They make a cracking pair and I don't think anyone other people could have done the roles justice!

At first both characters of Rita and Frank are irritating. I found Rita's strong accent distracting and Frank's self-pitying attitude annoyed me but they soon grow on you. They are in fact very likeable characters and you'll come away from the film feeling as though you know them just as well as you know your best friend. Rita in particular is very endearing but I imagined she would be an unlikeable, selfish character at first.

Not a lot happens in the film. If it were American, they would have had mad passionate sex on the kitchen table within five minutes of the film starting and one of them would probably die dramatically, but it's a British film so there's nothing like that! The film moves slowly and some would probably think it's boring, especially as it only has two main characters, but it tells the story with detail, which gives the character depth and believability which is far better than having ten, very superficial characters! By the end of the film, you actually feel as though you know Rita and Frank.

The film has a nice mix of comedy and drama. When the film starts to feel a bit bleak and perhaps could get a bit depressing, there are some amusing scenes that break it up and lighten the mood. I wasn't quite sure what I thought of Educating Rita until the very end - it has it&
#39;s funny moments but could also be quite heavy, which isn't a trait I often look for in films! It's a very enjoyable film to watch though, and it has it's moments where you're cackling along like a witch!

It is quite sentimental and I guess the moral of the story is 'don't forget who you are!' It's not at all slushy or cheesy, and the moral isn't pressed onto you in a very obvious way - you have to think about it first. It's very touching and moving (I cried at the end!), and gets you thinking, but it isn't the sort of film you watch when you're pissed! It sounds like I'm criticising the film but I loved it - you just have to be in the right sort of mood!

The ending was somewhat unsatisfying. If I had watched the film when it was first released in 1983 (six years before I was born!), I would have expected a sequel because although all the loose ends are tied up, the ending is neither what you expect or want! I'd love to see a sequel, seeing how Frank and Rita are doing in their lives but it's 21 years after the film was made now so I very much doubt there's going to be one! That's the only downside to the film.

It is quite an old film now, but it isn't dated and old-looking like a lot of films from the eighties. Educating Rita is a really good film and I'd recommend it to anyone - it's also strangely empowering in a way! If you're having a rough time, this film will give you that little bit of strength to change whatever's making you unhappy. And how many films can you say that about?

It's such a good film and has fast become one of my favourites. A lot of people say British films are crap but I prefer Educating Rita over a Hollywood blockbuster any day! If you liked Little Voice, The 
0;ull Monty or Billy Elliot, I reckon you'll like this as well. The film was developed from Willy Russell's play and directed by Lewis Gilbert who also directed Shirley Valentine and Alfie (the original 1966 one with Michael Caine, not the one with Jude Law!). It's rated 15 although doesn't contain anything that wouldn't be suitable for younger kids.

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