The Scattering – Cheers & Tears (3, Telefilm/Comedy)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: D Main Program: B-
It looks
like Cheers & Tears is a series
of smart comedy telefilms from England that have not reached U.S. TV enough to
have a reputation or get any press, but The
Scattering (2000) is the third installment of the series and is
amusing. At the funeral of a mutual
loved one, involving a trip to scatter an elder ladies’ ashes and what a
disaster it becomes.
Besides
the usual dysfunction among the family and friends, the mistress of a married
man joins that couple on this trip, old issues arise that have been suppressed
with the death and new craziness ensues.
Ian Richardson is the best-known of a cast of semi-familiar faces (Mark
Benton, Neil Pearson, Anne Reid, Brian Murphy) and the Paul Minett/Brian
Leveson teleplay is funny, witty and has some edge in its sarcasm. Leveson had written for the hilarious Piglet Files series (reviewed elsewhere
on this site) and that humor is alive and well here. He has continued writing for this series as
well.
The 1.78
X 1 image is anamorphically enhanced and is not great, but has some depth. Detail can be lacking, while color is mixed;
not muted, yet not vibrant. The Dolby
Digital 2.0 Stereo has no real surrounds, but is recorded well enough to hear
all the jokes. There are no extras, but
this is a good show worth your time. If
you want a good laugh with some weight and substance, The Scattering – Cheers & Tears is worth hunting down.
- Nicholas Sheffo
