A Fine Romance (1981–1984) User Reviews

underestimate gem

[selffamily · 8/10 · 26 October 2008]

It's intriguing to me that many of the really good programmes were made in the 70s and 80s. This is a comfortable and funny situation comedy which grows on one like the rambling roses that the landscape gardener would add to his plans. One starts watching, thinking will it be worth it, I haven't seen it for years, and then click! suddenly it reveals its comedy wickedly and hooks you right in there. I can't see any fault in Judi Dench in Comedy - she manages Shakespeare's comedies OK.

If you don't need guns and gossip, this is for you.

Footnote, I had no idea they were supposed to be 37 and 43. I agree, why pretend to be younger? It works very well with ignorance.

A Fine Show!

[Sylviastel · 7/10 · 25 July 2005]

When I first watched this show, I was little disappointed but after watching it again. I could see this is a fine show about two real life actors like Dame Judi Dench and Michael Williams (who did receive a papal knighthood) playing two odd characters like a linguist and a landscaper. Judi plays Laura, the intellectual linguist, and Michael plays Mike, the quiet shy landscaper. At first, this is an unlikely pairing but you know if you know anything about the great Dame Judi Dench (even though she prefer you call her just Judi, no Dame Judi or Ms. Dench). This is their romance. While Dame Judi receives a lot of attention, Michael is the wind beneath her wings. I paid a lot more attention to his role in this show. I can see why she fell in love with him. When Judi asked about her longtime marriage to Michael, she responded that "they just enjoyed being in the same room together." Now that is a sign of a fine romance and an excellent relationship. Michael never did receive the fame or accolades as his wife but I know he was proud of her even now as she earns one of Britain's top honor, Companion of Honor, only 65 living people at a time can receive this honor. When Dame Judi earned her O.B.E. (Officer of the British Empire) in 1970, Michael was not there in her life. When she became Dame Judi, Mike and her daughter, Finty was there at the palace. Now, she has her grandson, Sam, and Finty for this special occasion. I will say the writing of this show could be better. The humor is much dryer than normal, it is very cerebral and intellectual. Susan Penhaligon and Richard Warwick are just fine as Laura's sister Helen and brother-in-law Phil. It really is the story of Mike and Judi's great relationship. I bet you that Judi loved doing this show with Mike. It gave them a chance for both of them to shine.

The Good Adjectives Are Already Taken

[lisado · 25 March 2002]

"A Fine Romance" *is* a charming, low-key show with delightful and appealing characters and performances. We first started watching it on video during a pledge-drive Britcom dry spell on our local PBS station and were hooked with the very first episode. The unfolding relationship between Laura and Mike is sweetly humorous, and the performances of Judi Dench and Michael Williams create completely engaging characters. You really feel for them and their awkwardness and wish them well in their efforts to forge a life together.

As other reviewers have said, this is definitely not a show with an American sensibility, and that accounts for so much of its charm and appeal. The principals are beyond the blush of youth, something rarely seen Stateside, at least in a non-family-centered show. The episodes are often character rather than "situation" driven, and even the situations generally reveal something of the characters; thus, many of the silly, overused devices of the American sitcom are mercifully absent.

In sum, a mild-mannered and well-written show beautifully pulled together by all involved.

A low key but worthwhile series

[gee-15 · 9/10 · 12 November 2008]

Few series have more ably depicted the complicated communication between two people from different backgrounds who are trying to forge a relationship. Mike and Laura start out associating by accident and then by design. Laura is prickly and easily offended. Mike is well-intentioned but inarticulate. Laura is an intellectual with strong family ties (especially to her long-suffering sister). Mike is a landscaper with no family to speak of. They both feel like outsiders looking in most of the time. This series details their mutual yearnings and blunderings in a warm and humorous manner. By the end, I wanted terribly for these two awkward people to get together. A sign of a successful series.

Good acting, good writing, and good supporting characters. Highly recommended.

Subtle, sweet, endearingly funny English comedy series

[opsbooks · 10/10 · 17 February 2009]

This is one of those TV series you remember fondly from earlier days, due to its two stars and the gentle humour which honestly reflects the actions of two awkward people, each looking for companionship and never expecting to find it. Mike and Laura are made for each other in the eyes of their friends; it really is that obvious, but not to themselves, of course.

Viewers of 'As Time Goes By' may find the show less fun. Perhaps that's due to the late 70s and early 80s being a strange period, especially for those of us who managed to survive it without any scars! I've seen ATGB from beginning to end a number of times and am sure it was partly done as Judi's tribute to Michael. He's one of my three favourite actors, right up there with James Bolam and Alun Armstrong.

Some people have commented on the shortness of the series, but it was and still is common practice in England to produce seasons of less than 10 episodes per year, in order to maintain quality control over the content.

Excellent

[Minuskel · 10/10 · 19 December 2006]

I watched this series on TV as a teenager, and loved it. I saw it on sale, bought the first series, watched it, and loved it. I bought the rest, worked my way through it in a few days, and loved it. And I will watch it again.

The the main character's insecurity keep me wanting to know if they will make it, the well-timed one-liners make me laugh, and the mistakes made by the characters make me feel for them. The script is as good as the acting (which, though a bit theatrical, is superb). What the actors don't actually say, we understand from their body language.

As a teenager I fell in love with this story and with Mike, the shy little guy who tries to stand up for himself, and who maybe could be a match for dramatic Laura. Again I feel myself wishing to be in Laura's shoes - but then again maybe not...

If you are thinking about buying this series, stop thinking and do it! If you are an actor: you probably have a lot to learn from Williams/Dench.

Wistful British comedy

[Bernie-56 · 5/10 · 22 September 1999]

A vehicle for husband and wife team Judi Dench and Michael Williams. Low key British sitcom and still appealing -- has dated little despite the first series now being almost two decades old.

It is unlikely to appeal to American tastes. One for afficionados of British humour.

Character Driven Comedy, how refreshing

[PretoriaDZ · 9/10 · 12 April 2009]

This is just the kind of wonderful English comedy that American television would buy and then immediately strip all its charm away by loading it down with sexual innuendo and casting actors wrong for the parts.

Judi Dench is admirable as an actor because she is willing to take on the mundane and see its dramatic possibilities. She has never been a snob about television comedy roles. Her work in it is usually better than 95% of movies filmed. Her husband, Michael Williams, is a master at physical comedy that reveals his character's state of mind. There is even pathos in the series as each character learns that what he or she thought was "settling" is actually a golden opportunity because the other person has valuable qualities.

It's a shame that the world did not fully recognize Mr. William's brilliant comedic talent before his untimely death.

The Difficulties of Being a Chubby Brit Bird

[boutros2-508-493139 · 4/10 · 14 March 2013]

First off, I have to say that I'm a Judi Dench fan...and an American. Four stars for Judi's acting.

The pilot episode sends a very clear message that Judi Dench's character, Laura, is an over-weight, middle-aged, over-bearing lump who can't cook and who should, therefore, take whatever man she can get. How enlightened.

What I actually saw was an attractive, pleasantly plump adult woman who was able to support herself through her ability to translate in several languages, lived in a clean and nicely appointed apartment, got things done and done right, and had a mind and a will of her own. So, an intelligent, independent, strong-willed women with a less than perfect figure = loser. Good to know.

Season One has Laura buying Mike a new sweater, offering to lend him money for his failed business, cleaning and decorating his office with help of her (younger, thinner, unemployed, happily married) sister, kicking him in the pants to go to the bank and ask for a loan, bringing him a cake for his office tea time, etc. Season 2 first episode, she has to beg him to let her work in his office for free, while she's ironing his shirts. In the span of a day, she pulls her connections to get him considerably more paid work, wheels and deals to get him new office furniture for free, and single-handedly gets his office paperwork and typing done. Wow. If only she weren't so fat.

Now, lets talk about the drip she has settled for. Mike - an inarticulate, indecisive, professionally incompetent, unromantic, socially awkward, mealy-mouthed landscaper without a dime to his name whose home consists of a cot in the corner of his run-down, shabby shed of an office. He has to go to Laura's apartment to take showers. Great.

Season two episode one has Laura doing anything that she can to try and turn her lump of coal into a diamond and her lump of coal is fighting all they way. By the end of the the first season, I was over this show. We see Laura out in the rain trying to pull a dolly full of Mike's sod for Mike's paid landscaping job (that she got him) over cobblestones while he does nothing to assist her and sadistically smiles at her discomfort. Presumably, that's what she gets for trying to help him with his business.

I had to watch an episode of As Time Goes By to counter the effects of this craptastic show. It was such a relief to see that Judi ends up with Lionel Hardcastle after all. :-)

Charming

[allan-45 · 23 September 2000]

This is a delightful British comedy about two people who are too shy and insecure to reveal their true feelings to one another. It's a treat to see Judi Dench a bit earlier in her career. She also gives us a preview to her character in "As Time Goes By". It's a pity that they made so few episodes of this charming series.

Sweet and charming.

[Aroura64 · 9/10 · 11 August 2022]

I remember watching this series when it was first broadcast on television. As I have grown older, I can appreciate the sweetness and subtlety of this sit-com. It is a little slow paced for a modern audience, but this is just fine by me. The only element which jars with me, are the clothes that Judi Dench had to wear. It is best to overlook this very minor flaw, and enjoy a masterclass in acting and some very funny dialogue.

I loved it

[johnmalone · 9/10 · 25 March 2021]

I loved it I was just a Boy when it erred on TV we all watched it & loved it specially Me and my mum.

binge watch this one!

[ozmenafletcher · 9/10 · 3 March 2016]

I lived in England from 1983 to 1985 and remember watching this sitcom. I know we didn't see it from the start and that made all the difference. It would have made more sense if we had.. I just didn't see why these two nice people argued all the time. Now in 2016, I can appreciate the wit, charm, and the hilarious results of these mismatched people. maybe it is like today when people use the internet to find a date or a mate with some crazy matches. But the problems these two have seem very timely to me. I wanted to reach inside the television and shake the two of them until they could see some sense. I binged watched over 3 days...there are only 4 seasons. I highly recommend this show, but if you don't like it now, wait another 20 years or so and give it another try.!

Americans will LOVE "Romance"!

[Kay-29 · 22 September 2002]

"A Fine Romance" is a delightful, gentle comedy that romance afficionados will love. Cleverly written by Bob Larbey, half of the duo that brought us "The Good Neighbors" and wonderfully nuanced performances by Dame Judi and the rest of the ensemble. American Britcom fans will definitely want to check this one out. Even my (non-romantic) hubby was chuckling throughout.

FANTASTIC! LOVE THE TRIALS AND ERRORS OF LOVE, JUST LIKE IN REAL LIFE!!

[seejay51 · 16 August 2004]

Whoever wrote "boring" must have been of the wrong age group. I'm 53 and I just loved all the movies (I bought the whole series) because I can relate to it. I loved the one liners! Michael Williams is spectacularly funny - a man without a clue!!

I got the whole set - I know that Amazon.com carries it - it's worth it!!! I also plan on getting the "Good Neighbors" complete set, "To The Manor Born" and "Vicar of Dibley". I LOVE English comedy!

Boring

[DarkHelmet-1 · 17 July 2001]

This isn't a show that is easily likable. In my opinion, Judi Dench really doesn't succeed at doing comedy. Michael Williams and Richard Warwick are funny, though not as funny as Geoffrey Palmer and Philip Bretherton in "As Time Goes By". The late Mr. Williams succeeds as an everyman-type character. I think this show, in spite of the odd good moments, is somewhat boring, but the again I'm American.