Review: 'Tamara Drewe'

Then there's her newly acquired boyfriend, rock star drummer Ben (Dominic Cooper), who tools around town in his bright yellow Porsche with a rambunctious, barking boxer in the passenger seat. And there's Tamara's old flame Andy (Luke Evans), who works as a farmhand and handyman at a writers retreat and thinks she might now be out of his romantic league.

The writers retreat features a romantic triangle as well, albeit older. It's run by a famous, pompous novelist, Nicholas (Roger Allam), and his earth-mother wife, Beth (Tamsin Greig). And they have an American guest, Glen (Bill Camp), who has come to England to overcome his writer's block while studying the works of Thomas Hardy. (The movie is adapted from a graphic novel based on Hardy's "Far From the Madding Crowd.")

In one of his lightest outings ever, director Stephen Frears manages to steer this comedy of manners through the motions. And he gets plenty of laughs by using a pair of teenage girls as a foul-mouthed Greek chorus that comments on the village's goings-on.

Some of the characters, most notably the prominent novelist Nicholas, are little more than stereotypes. He's an aging fellow who tries to sleep with every young woman he meets, much to the dismay of his humble wife.

As the title character, Arterton makes a perfectly believable sex symbol, even though the Greek chorus derisively calls her "Plastic Fantastic."

But "Tamara Drewe" is ultimately puffy stuff. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year amid a lineup dominated by dark fare. So it seemed a welcome respite at the time. And if you don't expect much depth, you'll have a fine time with this farce.

'Tamara Drewe'

Our review: B-

Genre: Comedy

Running Time: 110 min

MPAA rating: R