The Young Visiters [G]

When the loveable and innocent Alfred Salteena falls head over heels in love with the pretty face of young Miss Ethel Montacue, he is desperate to woo and marry her. But Ethel only sees Alfred as her ticket to high society and this could not be further from the truth. Alfred’s only connection to high society is his somewhat flimsy acquaintance with Lord Bernard Clark, with whom he invites Ethel and himself to stay. Desperate to impress Ethel, Alfred leaves her in the company of Lord Clark so that he might seek tuition in the ways of aristocracy from the Earl of Clincham. But while Alfred is bettering himself, Lord Clark takes a shine to young Ethel and seeks to make her his wife. Can Alfred get back in time to propose to Ethel first? 

I came across this film whilst I was sorting the comedy section at work. A BBC production set in Victorian England and packed with a bunch of actors I liked, I wondered why I had never heard of it before. I therefore, took it home and only had time to watch it this morning. Unfortunately, for all its fine actors and potentially engaging story, I found that it was a rather mundane comedy that was not very funny at all. 

When the loveable and innocent  Alfred Salteena falls head over heels in love with the pretty face of young Miss Ethel Montacue, he is determined to woo and marry her. But Ethel only sees Alfred as her ticket to high society and this could not be further from the truth as Alfred’s only connection to high society is his somewhat flimsy acquaintance with Lord Bernard Clark. In an attempt to impress Ethel, Alfred invites himself and Ethel to stay with Lord Clark, who immediately takes a shine to Ethel and recommends that Alfred travel to London to seek tuition in the ways of aristocracy from the Earl of Clincham. But whilst Alfred is bettering himself, Ethel’s faint interest in him vanishes and Lord Clark becomes intent on making her his wife. Can Alfred get back to propose to Ethel in first? 

Jim Broadbent stars as Alfred and he was rather enjoyable to watch, although his was a character that you could easily get sick of. With his hangdog expressions and somewhat over exaggerated clumsiness, you did feel sympathetic towards him, if only for a short time. 

Hugh Laurie plays Lord Bernard Clark and his character was not so dissimilar to that of Alfred. Although richer, more handsome, and more gentlemanly than Jim, Hugh also sported confused and sometimes melancholy expressions and I feel that there was something left wanting. 

Also featuring Bill Nighy, Sophie Thompson, and Geoffrey Palmer, The Young Visiters was a mundane and almost dreary comedy that really did not feel like a comedy at all. The story had the potential to be engaging, but alas, it only turned out to amount to ninety minutes of subdued performances, simple characters, and a rather melancholy ending. I don’t have any desire to see it again.