Inventing the Abbotts

UK Release: 21st November 1997

Watched on DVD: Sunday 7th October 2012

Rating: 15

Genre: Drama, Romance

Runtime: 1hr 50mins

Tagline: Love no matter what

IMDb Plot Synopsis: Set in the 1950s, Inventing the Abbotts is a dramatic look at the life of two boys from the wrong side of the tracks and their interaction with the three daughters of local aristocrat Lloyd Abbott. The boys, Jacey and Doug have only 3 things in common: their family, table tennis and chasing the Abbott sisters.

A Quick Review: I bought this film on a whim at a car boot sale for a knock down price and so was not at all prepared for how wonderful it turned out to be! 

It’s quite intense and swept me away in this sunday-afternoon-tv-movie way. 

Don’t get me wrong it got quite soppy here and there but the performances from Joaquin Phoenix and Liv Tyler especially, were so much better than you would expect. 

The chemistry between them is excellent and the film left me with the perfect warm retro glow (helped hugely by the beautiful costumes and locations) that only good romance on a sunday afternoon can give you.

Score: 7.5/10