Wicked Little Letters * * *

I didn't write the *@&*8# letters, O'right!

Wicked Little Letters is a weird little film that wants to be a gentle British comedy but probably contains more bad language than any other film you'll see this year.

The period is about a hundred years ago in a small town in England.  It was a time when swear words were rarely heard in public - and never in front of Ladies.

Edith, one of the more prudent and proudly God-fearing women in the town starts to receive letters that are utterly foul in their language and sexual references.  Edith is a sad, oppressed, fifty year old spinster that still lives with her parents. Her outraged father informs the police and demands that something be done about it.

But Edith is pretty sure the cops won't be needed to investigate.  She believes the culprit to be the woman next door, Rose. A loud Irish woman who has a proclivity to swear, has a cheeky daughter and a boyfriend who sleeps over.  

Rose protests that she hasn't the time or the money or the inclination to indulge in such activities.  "If I was going to curse you, I'd do it to your face" she says, and proves it.

On seeing the letters though, she admits that they do contain some admirably creative swearing.  As many other people in the little town learn when they too become the recipients of such letters.

The local constabulary are pretty hopeless except for one a woman constable who is equally persuaded that it cannot be Rose.  Then there are the eccentric people of the village who each have their own opinion as to who it might be. (We do find out incidentally.)

It's a bit like those light English Dramas that are often on BBC. Nostalgic, funny at times, and populated by stereotypes.  It is also painfully conscientious to be "inclusive" in its casting, creating situations that would never have existed in the UK a hundred years ago.   But, amongst the "name" actors are Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley and Timothy Spall.

It was amusing enough, but I didn't find much to take home or remember.