Borrowed Time (2012) Philip Davis, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Juliet Oldfield, Warren Brown Movie Review

Borrowed Time (2012)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Theo Barklem-Biggs in Borrowed Time (2012)

Make my Tea... Punk!

Kevin (Theo Barklem-Biggs) is not the brightest tool in the box which is why he finds himself owing the martial arts loving Nigel (Warren Brown) money and being persuaded by his sort of friends to break in to the home belonging to an old hermit to steal cash. Well Kevin being Kevin things don't go to plan as the old hermit, Philip (Philip Davis), ends up holding him at gun point. But despite this less than great introduction Kevin ends up befriending Philip and even brings his nephew to see him despite frustrating his sister Becky (Juliet Oldfield) for being unreliable. But there is still a little matter of Nigel to deal with.

I can't tell you that "Borrowed Time" has the most original of stories, truth be told without really trying I can think of at least a half a dozen other comedies surrounding a grumpy older person being befriended by a teenager. But some themes just seem to work and that friendship between two people with problems who end up bringing out the best in each other, or at least their better qualities, is one of them. As such there is something simply charming about "Borrowed Time" even though charm is not really the sort of word you would use to describe the humour.

Philip Davis in Borrowed Time (2012)

It is the comedy in "Borrowed Time" which is what the movie thrives on with the less than bright Kevin ending up in various situations from waking up in a car being driven to work after sleeping in the back seat to that unusual friendship he forms with Philip. On the subject of which here is a grumpy old man who has a house packed with stuffed animals and uses an old blunderbuss to threaten people. The strange thing about the comedy in "Borrowed Time" is that at first it seems all a little moronic, focusing on Kevin's ineptitude, but over time as the friendship forms and Kevin's good heart comes out it becomes less stupid and more sweet, although still pretty daft.

What this all boils down to is that "Borrowed Time" ended up a pleasant surprise as whilst it starts a bit rough and has some flaws it ends up an amusing charmer.


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