简介：Anamusinglittlepiecethatheavilycomesdownonthesideofthechildrendespitelackingbite,23August2004 Author:bobthemoofromBirmingham,UK WilliamHoggwinsaminorpoetryprizeforhisworkbasedonhisfamilylife.However,whenanaudiencememberberatinghimforcriticisinghisparentsaccostshim,hedecidestomendthebridgesandinvitethemaroundfordinner.WhentheyarrivethingsgetofftoabadstartimmediatelywhentheyarecriticalandimpatientbuttheyonlygetworsewhenittranspiresthatWilliam'sparentshaveinvitedhissistersaswell. Manyfilmsproclaimtheimportanceofparentandchildrelationshipsandyoucouldprobablysinkashipwiththeweightofweepymelodramasonthesubject,howeverthisshorttakestheoppositeline.Notallparentsarewonderfulpeopleandnotalldistantchildrenarespoiltlittlebratstoolazytomaketheeffort.HereweseeHoggchallengedtonotjustseethebadthingsabouthisparentsandsettingouttorebuildwiththem,buttheyturnouttostillbethepeoplewhomadehimthenervous,shywreckheisnow.Thefilmdoeswelltoshowthemastheslightdrunkstheyarebutitisashamethatitwasdonesosimplytothepointthatitwasmostlydoneforlaughsratherthananycleversearchingofcharacter.Onthislevelitstillmanagestobeamusingbutitisamusingwhereitshouldhavebeentelling. Thecastdoprettywellwithwhattheyaregivenbutnoneofthemmakereallyconvincingdrunks–theyjustcomeacrossassoberpeopleactingdrunk(whichIsupposeiswhattheyare!).Gordonisgood;FairmanandKnightarebothenjoyablyharshwhilepeoplelikeBoonemakeitabitmoreinterestingwithnothingmuchtodo.Thespinonthesideofthechildisaclevertouchthatsetsitapartandthecharactersareusedreasonablywelltobeamusingbutitisjustashamethatthescriptwasn'tabletobedeeperormoreinsightfulwhilestillbeingamusing.Worthwatchingonceaslongasyoudon'texpecttoomuch.…