IslandGuru Who payed the critics

Softwing Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Tayloriona Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Pete Huntley I adore Professor Branestawm. One of my favourite books as a kid.So when I heard Harry Hill was to play the professor I had huge doubts. I've never found Hill funny, even though I appreciate his talents. He's just not my style of humorist. I thought he'd be too broad and overplay the character, like his comic persona.I couldn't have been more wrong. Hill is excellent. He's not necessarily playing the character in the books, but brings his own slant which is rounded, believable, funny and entertaining.Just a damn shame about everyone else involved in the production.With the exception of Ben Miller and the young girl, everyone else is overacting. Even David Mitchell, who should know better. Adrian Scarborough pulling silly faces as the vicar when the role was screaming for Mark Williams to offer some nuanced comedy.Ben Miller does of course require special praise. The man is not only one of the funniest actors in Britain, he's one of the finest full stop and if he moved into drama, he could play any role with distinction. Worth the entrance fee alone. Just watch the town hall scene. He's the only one to get any traction out of the munitions factory joke and does so without even trying.So unfortunately, much of this is sub panto mugging to a rather smug script (The Tardis? Really?), the kind that the BBC does insufferably well nowadays. There are gems and laughs to be had from some of the performers but really it's only half way to the Professor Branestawm I hoped for and wanted.

Jackson Booth-Millard I had not really seen the star and writer of TV Burp do any acting, only in his self-titled movie, which was not very good, but at Christmas time I saw the advert for this TV made film based on the popular children's books, and I was looking forward to seeing how it would be. Basically in the town of Great Pagwell, Professor Branestawm (Harry Hill) is a most eccentric and absent-minded inventor always working in his "Inventory", many of his bizarre inventions often either malfunction or work in unexpected ways, his friends and allies are Colonel Dedshott (Simon Day) of the Catapult Cavaliers, and his housekeeper Mrs. Flittersnoop (Vicki Pepperdine). He is a man of simple tastes with a shiny bald head and five pairs of spectacles – one for reading, one for writing, one for out of doors, one for looking at you over the top of and a fifth pair for looking for the others on the frequent occasions when they get lost, and he makes a new friend and apprentice in schoolgirl Connie (Madeline Holliday). Professor Branestawm is however thought of as a menace to the peace and wellbeing of the town, especially by officious local councillor Harold Haggerstone (David Mitchell) who questions the legality of his experimenting and inventing, and businessman Mr. Bullimore (Ben Miller) who wants to destroy his workshop and build a giant munitions factory, right in the middle of town. Professor Branestawm and Connie, while continuing to invent new-fangled creations, with some of them causing chaos to the townspeople, try to find a way to prove he is permitted to remain in Great Pagwell, with a signed deed to appeal to Haggerstone and The Mayor (Charlie Higson, also writing), in the end, with the appearance of invented liquid that brings photographs to life and a mad robotic father figure in the scene, the permission is approved. Also starring Miranda Richardson as Miss Blitherington, Sophie Thompson as Aggie and Adrian Scarborough as The Vicar. Hill being naturally bonkers is a great choice for the leading character, the supporting stars like Day, Mitchell and Miller do well in their parts also, filled with some special effects and magical events, strange things going and created and plenty of slapstick and oddball jokes this is something all the family can relax in front of, a fun comedy fantasy. Worth watching!

ic2 A lovely adaption of Norman Hunter's books.An excellent cast including lot's of faces from other British TV shows. Harry Hill is excellent as the nutty Professor, Ben Miller as the evil factory and Vicky Pepperdine just to name a few.This has lot's of funny moments, it is a book for Children so don't expect subtle adult humour or contrivances.I saw another review describe this as vile. I cannot for the life of me understand where this comment could have come from. This has all the elements that appeal to children of a certain age. Adults behaving badly,a bit of slapstick, simple jokes and a happy ending.It may not appeal to the Ipad generation but other's will enjoy it.

Prismark10 Professor Branestawm is based on a character created by author Norman Hunter in the 1930s who wrote a series of books featuring him over the years. As I knew little of Professor Branestawm I thought the infamous Leeds footballer of the 1970s, Norman 'bites yer legs' Hunter had carved another career post-retirement!Branestawm is what might be termed the original absent minded professor, whose strange inventions tend to go disastrously wrong. His housekeeper Mrs Flittersnoop and his dim but loyal comrade Colonel Dedshott are usually on hand to come to his rescue.Some of the local dignitaries have had enough of the zany Professor and one of the rogue Councillor's is in cahoots with a bullyboy corporate mogul who wants to build a munitions factory in the village and destroy its way of life and get shot of the professor at the same time.Its up to a school girl Connie already fed up with her teacher at school who is hell bent on holding girls back from learning science to stop the bully boys from pulling the plug on the Professor and his contraptions.Harry Hill takes the starring role as the very bespectacled Professor Branestawm who fits well with the zaniness as well as being the social outsider, finding hard to communicate with people but for his few friends.The film is certainly charming, its adapted by comedy actor and noted author Charlie Higson who also appears in the film. However it felt a little too aimed at the kids rather than a family audience and it also felt rather cumbersome with its humour. Still I would like to see more of the televised adventures featuring the Professor.