My Family and Other Animals (1987) User Reviews (4)

One of My Familys Favourites

[VictorianCushionCat · 9/10 · 16 April 2009]

I seem to remember that the weather in the winter of 1987 in the UK was not the best, including the terrible storms that October. But at least around that time the nation was able to soak up the sun in a small way by watching this exotic escapism.

Memories of it being much replayed on VHS recordings back in the day by my family made me pick up a copy on DVD 20 years later, and I'm glad I did. I should mention that I've not read the book (another to do) so I'm not able to compare in that sense.

The acting is very fitting to the surroundings, Hannah Gordon is serene as the mother, and credit to Brian Blessed, he's still the Brian Blessed we all know (and love) but fittingly he is not as bombastic as usual. The rest of the family are adept at conveying the charming calamity of the Durrell family, in other words, English eccentrics in the sunshine.

The local element is also excellent, plenty of passing characters who perhaps could only of existed in 1930s Corfu, all adds to the dream like element of the show.

And of course wildlife is core to the show, and there is plenty of close ups of various insect life inserted, the story lines are not rushed as is fitting the atmosphere, so it somehow adds to the whole experience.

My Family and Other Animals could be the perfect solution if you want to add some real warmth to a wet Sunday afternoon.

A boy, his dog, his family and Corfu. Result? Chaos!

[Flower_of_the_Lily · 9/10 · 3 December 2007]

The true story (or so it's claimed!) of prominent naturalist Gerald Durrell's stay on the Greek island of Corfu in the 1930's, together with his family, is informative, dramatic, interesting - and oh yes, downright hilarious at times. Gerry is the youngest member of his eccentric family, and at the time the story starts already a keen nature enthusiast. So it's a dream come true when his very English family emigrate to the beautiful Greek island, which is teeming with bird and animal life for him to investigate. But there's small chance of being his being left to pursue his vocation in peace - also present are his intelligent but highly temperamental brother Larry, the other writer of the family, his romantic if scatty sister Margo, practical Leslie, who is also a keen marksman and rifleman and only slightly less volatile than Larry, and his long-suffering and endlessly patient Mother, who attempts to keep her wilful and unruly offspring within the bounds of reason and sanity. She doesn't always manage this.

Also present are various friends, servants, tutors (oh, horror!) and the people of Corfu, not to mention Gerry's ever growing menagerie of animals and birds. Mix all this together and some truly crazy situations arise - but the Durrell family always manages to muddle through somehow, thanks mainly to Mother, their Greek friend Spiro (played wonderfully by Brian Blessed) and Gerry's mentor, Dr. Theodore Stephanides, a naturalist and philosopher with a weakness for terrible puns. So they all manage to get through Gerry's scorpion escaping at the breakfast table, Margo and Mother's disastrous date at the cinema, Larry setting his room on fire, Leslie finding snakes in the bath, Gerry's tortoise meeting an unfortunate end, Leslie's burglar alarm prompting a near riot, Larry's room being torn asunder by magpies, musical pigeons, hysterical dogs, and Spiro's determination to make sure Gerry gets educated.

Right from the start, it's apparent that Gerald's story is from another, less anxious and certainly less PC time. Gerry Durrell, the youngest member of his eccentric, thoroughly English family, goes walking, climbing trees, swimming and actually hangs out with a convicted murderer at one point, all with no more supervision than that afforded by his faithful dog Roger. But you just know nothing truly bad can happen on Corfu - drenched in sunshine, surrounded by sparkling blue sea, it seems another world altogether. Production on this film is superb - the cinematography is wonderful, the scripts are good, as is the acting. Particular mention must go to Brian Blessed as the fierce and booming but golden-hearted Spiro, and Anthony Calf as Larry, who must have been very uncomfortable to live with but is fantastically funny to watch. Make sure you pay a visit!

Loved every minute.

[carheart-72064 · 10/10 · 3 January 2022]

Every week when it came on TV I would not talk to anyone. I would not answer the telephone. Unlike someone who did not like the music I loved it. This is one of the happiest, most enjoyable, series I've ever seen. No, it is the happiest most enjoyable. I wish there were ways to see it streaming. Everything about that series was perfect. The cast was perfect, the settings beautiful, and the comedy of errors hilarious. If anyone wants to find something they can just let go, and enjoy, this is it. If you've not read the books please do.

It is based on the memories of Gerald Durrell. He must have has a wonderful childhood. He was interested in anything that scurried, slithered, barked, flew, swam. Once grown he set up a zoo on one of the channel islands to help conserve wildlife.

What an interesting life.

Ruined by two things

[buddybickford · 2/10 · 3 May 2015]

This is ruined by two things: 1. The music. An oppressive ever present whistling, a diabolical melody is whistled at the beginning and throughout anytime there is no talking. It dictates the mood of any scene, it pervades strangles and suffocates like a weed.

2.The acting of the boy. This child cannot act, at all, it's terrible. Even when he reads his lines out he sounds like he has a learning difficulty, so he doesn't even sound like a kid reading. "Oh yayes, eat, IS myyyyyyyy, birth daaaaaaaaaaaaay, are YOU goingk to GIVE ME AYE PRESORNT, I Am wONDERING OF this NOWWOOO"

Wasted opportunity to make a film of a great book. Who the hell chose that kid and or the music! (the same person for sure (tin ear you see))