Life Is Sweet

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Simon T @MovieTart Mar 13, 2026 Everyone in this occasionally over-played Mike Leigh piece seems to have a dysfunctional relationship with food, drink and relationships. Andy (Jim Broadbent) is a layabout who is forever pretending he's about to fix something; Wendy (Alison Steadman) conceals her unhappiness with bawdy jokes; their twin daughters (Jane Horrocks & Claire Skinner) are a) bulimic b) clandestinely lesbian. Family friend Aubrey (Tim Spall) is sexually repressed and planning to open his pretentious High Street French bistro (the 'Regret Rien') on a Tuesday night when precisely no-one turns up. There are several excellent sequences, a tone of sadness despite the comedy, and only Rachel Portman's repetitive score becomes an annoyance. See more Patrick S @PatrickStruik Dec 13, 2025 Such a warm Mike Leigh. Masterpiece. See more Dave S @RT68722908 Jan 25, 2024 It's often tempting to compare the early films of a renowned director to his or her classics. In the case of Mike Leigh, Life is Sweet fails to compare favorably to his better known works, namely Naked and Secrets and Lies. Life is Sweet is the story of a working-class London family coming to terms with both their economic woes and their strained interpersonal family dynamics. Throughout, there are some hurdles to overcome, namely a handful of over-the-top performances (Jane Horrocks among them as a morose, nihilistic daughter), an annoying score, and some inconsistent editing. However, it is a movie with its heart in the right place and while it is difficult to love, it is easy enough to like, especially over the last twenty or so minutes when things begin to come together. See more Leaburn O @RT35452347 Oct 3, 2022 This went right over my head. Kitchen sink drama from early 90s with no real drama, no plot, nothing. Girl has ridiculous irritating voice, family are boring. A youngish Timothy Spall is only interesting aspect to the film but his part is overplayed. Not too long thankfully but totally pointless to watch. Took nothing from this. See more isla s @RT89656869 Sep 3, 2022 This is very much a 90s film about a dysfunctional British family. It was quite amusing, if only for the scenes with Timothy Spall's character - him in big bright red, round glasses was enough to make me laugh, never mind the moody accent and his drunkenness in one scene. The cast is good all round, with a young Jim Broadbent, Jane Horrocks and Clare Skinner etc. There's humour in the dialogue and while its hardly an exciting watch, the characters are certainly quirky (if quite gobby!) and its a pretty entertaining watch. I liked the musical score, which highlights the perhaps eccentricity of things, although some people may feel its a little too sentimental perhaps. I quite enjoyed this film, so yes I'd recommend it. See more Christopher B @Ikari777 Aug 24, 2022 At the same time the film is sweet and good natured and darker when dealing with the real issues underneath the seemingly normal exterior. Life is Sweet is a slice-of-life study of a lower middle-class family which is made up of a Wife and husband both of whom are young for having 20-something year old twin girls, both of whom live at home still. They have some physical similarities but are also vastly different in their fashions and outward appearance as well as mental opposites, Natalie who has a boyish haircut and fashion is optimistic and cheerful while Nicola is coping with some serious depression and anorexia/bulimia issues and has a rather cold disposition towards the world and especially her family. The film dives into the everyday lifestyle of the family and a few close friends and acquaintances but delves underneath to the more serious psychological issues and troubles of those involved and makes for a sentimental look on family life. See more Read all reviews

Life Is Sweet

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