HOPE SPRINGS

BEUNA VISTA

RELEASED 9 May 2003

When portrait artist Colin (Colin Firth) arrives in the tiny New England town of Hope, he is seriously tired and depressed. Left behind in the UK is his fiancee, Vera (Minnie Driver), who Colin has discovered is going to marry someone else. All Colin wants is to wallow in his despair, but he hasn’t counted on the attentions of local girl Mandy (Heather Graham), nor the hot pursuit of an apologetic Vera..

‘Hope Springs’ is a harmless romantic-comedy featuring fine comedic performances from Minnie Driver as the acid-tongued fiancee who always gets what she wants, and Oliver Platt as the town mayor overcome with his self-importance and vanity. Colin Firth does the uncomfortable, reserved Brit-schtick performance copywrited by Hugh Grant. Perhaps Hugh passed this one up, which wouldn’t be surprising given the predictability of the story and the lack of major laughs or convincing romance.

TWO OUT OF FIVE