In a word: Charming.

An interesting project from the outset. Directed by New Zealand playwright Toa Fraser, Dean Spanley is a NZ/UK co-production based on the novella My Talks with Dean Spanley by Baron Dunsany. A top notch story, with great visuals and a master cast really draw this feature to the top of the stack.

Leon Narby’s cinematography sticks to the the common colour palette for an Edwardian period piece. But the camera movement feels much less restricted than your run of the mill costume drama. The film is lit beautifully in a very painterly fashion. Barely a scene goes by that cannot be appreciated as a still. For someone interested in visuals, this is reason enough to see this film.

Though Dean Spanley indulges in the New Zealand tradition of a very masculine cast this can be overlooked as it pits some of the best film actors from New Zealand and England together. Sam Neil is flawless in portraying the tricky role of the Dean. It’s refreshing to see Neil in such a likeable role, it brings back that sense of hometown pride we in New Zealand so often get from our stars of cinema. Meanwhile Peter O’Toole gives an intense performance visiting extremes in what has been called, hopefully prematurely, a “career-capping performance”*. Jeremy Northram, Bryan Brown and Judy Parfitt are wonderful in themselves and compliment Neil and O’Toole very well.

I went into this film having not read the book and having viewed a trailer that, thankfully, gave very little away. Less revealing trailers seem to be increasing as a trend, something I appreciate as I feel it’s often given me a better movie experience. I struggled to think of what precisely to say about the story, other than my affection for it. While writing this review I happened across screenwriter Alan Sharp’s interview with On Film in which he recalls Northam as being “unable to describe [the film] in a pitch sort of way.” Don’t despair, there is a story, and not one that is pinned on some Shyamalanian twist. My concern here is that Dean Spanley is an experience best enjoyed first hand, rather than as a hazy but well-meant recollection. Any description of such a story would lack the nuances, the tone; it would lack the ride.

Charming, funny, touching, unique. Dean Spanley reads as a cherished story from childhood with all the grown up complexity expected from a feature film. I recommend this film to all.

*Toronto International Film Festival

The formula of this film is evident from even the smallest glimpse of publicity. However, assuming the tale of Danny Wallace’s life changing experience to be nothing more than a simple play-by-play of a fantastical relationship would be a disservice to both the concept and the film. Though the first thing to spring to mind is Jim Carrey in another off-beat rom-com, Yes Man deserves a little more credit. Yes, it features some trademark Carrey physical comedy, but stand willing to liken this film more to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind than Dumb and Dumber. Yes Man builds on a comfortable foundation to create a film that manages to one up your average box office feature. In keeping with the theme of Yes, here’s five reasons why you should see Yes Man.

1. It’s a good film. There’s a formula, yes. It sticks to it’s genre too, but that doesn’t stop director Peyton Reed from crafting an enjoyable, unique film. It’s funny and engaging, with the possibility of heartwarming and not without depth.

2. Music. Even though I am a huge fan of the Eels, it has somehow never occured to me how great their entire catalogue is in terms of filmic score. It was an epiphanic moment when I realised how well it was working. The soundtrack album is composed almost entirely of Eels songs (including a new one, Man Up) with four songs by Munchausen by Proxy (Zooey Deschanel and Von Iva). Were there a little more of the band I would offer that Yes Man is worth the Munchausen by Proxy alone.

3. Zooey. Zoeey is a star, and Yes Man embraces this. It’s great to see her in anything and even better when she gets to wear great outfits and perform original music. For fans of Zooey you can’t do much better than this film except perhaps those very few episodes of Weeds where she portrayed Uncle Andy’s maniacal ex-girlfriend. Without saying too much, there are costumes!

4. Rhys Darby. It’s been great watching him on Conchords, I certainly won’t balk at the chance to see him in a feature. There’s nothing wrong with a little hometown pride. We quite like Rhys Darby here. Hope you do too.

5. Yes. I may be pushing my luck with the Yes theme. But hey, if there ever was a movie to recommend based on the “why not” factor alone this is it. Plus, it’s a great time of the year to draw a little inspirado for living life. After all, Yes is the New No.