inkblot11 Review of Toast

Toast (2010 TV Movie)

A grand toast to "Toast", I give, it is quite an unusual film and also quite good

[7/10 · 20 December 2012]

Little Nigel Slater (Oscar Kennedy as a boy, Freddie Highmore as a teen) loves his mum (Victoria Hamilton) very much, except in one matter. She is the world's worst cook and never buys anything fresh, only food in tins. His father (Ken Stott) doesn't seem to mind but many a dinner is difficult to swallow. Mum's backup is always the reliable toast, popping out of the silver dragon, and spread with butter and jam. Nigel consumes quite a bit of toast, needless to say. A chance encounter with a young gardener in the neighborhood opens a world beyond the tin. Sadly, though, Mother becomes sicker with asthma and dies. Young Nigel is despondent and so is his dad. Yet, before long, Father hires an eccentric, divorced housekeeper, Mrs. Potter (Helena Bonham Carter) to clean up the home. Mrs. Potter dresses exotically and plays Dusty Springfield records as she "disinfects" the place from top to bottom. Out of the blue, the buttoned-downed Mr. Slater becomes smitten with Mrs. Potter, much to Nigel's chagrin. Well, opposites can attract. Before long, the adults decide to move to a remote part of England, dragging a kicking Nigel with them. Thus, an enmity has sprung up between Mrs. P and Nigel. When a teen, Nigel signs up for cooking classes at school and vows to "outcook" his stepmum, even down to her lemon meringue pie. Can he do it? This is quite an unusual film, based on the true tale of Slater, who became a chef and food writer in his later years. The performances of Stott, Kennedy, and Highmore are great and Carter delivers a wham-slam turn as Mrs. P. Then, the early sixties time span and British setting is a treat, as is, naturally, the lovely songs of Springfield, one of the best female singers ever. Mrs. Potter's costumes are also lots of fun and provide a great counterpoint to the more conservative choices given to Stott and Hamilton. There is one point that might upset some viewers. Nigel is gay and there is a scene of him kissing another male as a teen. It is quite a minor point in the overall movie but it may deter some viewers. Nevertheless, Toast deserves a big, hearty glass of wine, in a raised hand, as its extraordinary story is captivating.