Room to Rent (2000) User Reviews

Charming, funny and interesting

[ian_harris · 7/10 · 23 June 2003]

We enjoyed this film from start to finish - it is charming, funny and interesting.

Fine actors such as Rupert Graves and Anna Massey provide excellent support for the talented Said Taghmaoui who plays the lead.

The plot is a little predictable, but no real harm in that. Issues around economic migration and the way women are treated in our society are given a light touch but are respectably covered. This film does not have the depth of Dirty Pretty Things, for example, but does not set out to have that depth.

The early sequence filmed at night along the Edgware Road in London really captured the bright lights and chaos of the neighbourhood. Do try the shawarmas in Maroush/Ranoush if you get the chance to make a pilgrimage there, by the way. They are the best to be had outside the Middle East.

Great fun, see it and enjoy.

Good

[Robin Kelly · 7/10 · 20 June 2001]

The adage is "write what you know" and so Al-Haggar writes about an Egyptian screenwriter who lived in London. However, he allows his imagination to take Room to Rent in a different bizarre direction to his life story.

Unfortunately his imagination isn't always teamed with logic. I didn't believe any of the story contrivances and the last twist is simply impossible - even if you accept re-incarnation really happens.

And yet strangely I was swept along and never annoyed. This is due to the believable characters, good dialogue and a valiant attempt to avoid cliché.

This isn't at first glance a formula film but Al-Haggar hits all the right structural points at the right times ensuring excellent pacing.

While the plotting is never convincing it is however always entertaining.

Interesting enough

[SusanAdebisi · 7/10 · 16 November 2006]

Revolving around aspiring writer Ali's tribulations In a new & unfamiliar setting told from an outsiders perspective. The title, presumably In reference to his numerous different lodgings Is Initially a central plot line, as It progresses the focus turns to finding a Visa bride. Coinciding with the sympathy humour of Ali's beginnings being replaced by adding depth to his plight. Shame as for the first hour there are many funny moments - ie the "inspiration" for his stories.

London under the night lights looks great also rightly portraying a sprawling city that can be Incredibly lonely. The main character(the lippy arab guy from La Haine) Is very good both confident & hapless, Juliete Lewis' In character Munroe Impersonation again good although under-used. The supernatural stuff at the end feels a little out of place but at least has some reasoning behind it so forgivable. Overall a likable film just about judging the balance between light & serious, odd enough to keep you watching. Most Importantly a brit comedy drama that doesn't try too hard - stupid gimmicks, rubbish stereotypes, disgusting overacting etc.

wow

[joe_poc · 10/10 · 1 September 2002]

for the first time a movie that talk about Arabians and Egyptians specifically without making them barbaric nor ignorant. Although (Taghmaoui) is not Egyptian but his perfomnance was magnificent. The same with (Juliette lewis) who made (Marelin Monro) scenes with all her senses. (Khaled El-Hagar) is unbelievely talented in making every scene so every body could feel the movie as if it is his story even if he didnt pass with the same setiuations. The script by (El-hagar) & (Amanda Stewart) was gorgeous because it made the movie very near and close to and thus entertaining for arabians, & very new for non-Arabians by making them exploding new horizons. Other thing was choosing the using ancient Egyptian myths at the end of the film although non realstic. Generally magnificent. Thumbs up.

Unique film, uneven in tone but plot goes off at some original tangents.

[jezzacla · 20 February 2002]

Very British film comedy-romance-drama about immigrants trying to 'make it' in Britian. In the same way that 'My Beautiful Launderette' was hard to categorise as straight romance or straight comedy, so is this, but perhaps it lacks the political bite of the earlier film. However it does feature a likeable lead performance and a plot with enough inertia to keep thickening.

The rather linear and limited appearance of Juliette Lewis is a bit of a mystery. I would suggest she was placed in the film, in the same way that 'Four Weddings And a Funeral' wanted an American actress in order to boost box-office. The trouble is: Juliette Lewis has spoken at length about her enjoyment of the script and how seriously she took the role. Yet her role seems very slight and a little bit of a blind alley. If the Mariyln Monroe impersonator looked and sounded little like Marilyn off-stage (perhaps with a Birmingham, England accent) it would have made more sense and the lead character's love of her would have made his character even more sweetly innocent and endearing.

The last half hour of the film seems to have come from an entirely different script, more fantastical and yet more serious at the same time. Perhaps this is the influence of the literary genre, magical-realism but regardless, it does make for a film that goes somewhere you weren't expecting and how often can you say that about a film?

Good hearted comedy

[Havan_IronOak · 8/10 · 25 May 2003]

This film is a good hearted comedy that meets the most important of my criteria for an enjoyable film. You really like the characters and you enjoy spending time with them.

Ali is an Egyptian living in London who has come to the end of his student visa and wants to remain.

His struggle for a means to do that, and the characters we meet along the way provide good light hearted fare in this thoroughly enjoyable, and different film.

I particularly enjoyed Ali's relationship with Mark, the gay photographer. It was refreshing to see a friendship between a gay man and a straightman where one wasn't lusting after the other or vice versa. It was actually a bit funny to see Ali's reactions when he noticed Mark "noticing" other young men. Not so much jealousy as mutual recognition of mens' enjoyment of the "thrill of the hunt".

Also the scene where Mark's father mistakes Ali for Mark's lover, rather than just his room-mate, was sweet and touching. Having Mark's father call his son a good man and asking Ali to take care of him is a nice counterbalance to the furious fathers that we usually see.

Overall a truly enjoyable little movie.

A Great Ride! of a movie!!!

[webmaster_khaledabolnaga · 11 August 2002]

Simply a ride!, hilarious never ending twist after another of a script, a lot of brilliant edit cuts, great acting, and above all obviously a top notch director who scores high when its about humor in film.

You will never guess where this story will take you the next second and its always while you are laughing on that the next twist comes and its always as un-imaginable and un-believable as you can... well... can not think of! yet very well paced and written and very truly delivered from the actors that you accept it willingly if not lovingly. Then you get addicted to the ride! Addicted to the point that you would not want it to end without a major meaning to the whole ride as if it is your own! It is truly very entertaining and engaging in a whole different sense if not "Genre" if I may say.

The script carries you from one twist to another with a very special sense of humor present almost in every scene that really grows on you by the end! Khaled El Hagar (the writer/director) comes up with a last twist that is of course un-expected as you can expect after going through this ride with him! Could not help think he could be a re-encarnated Great Director! trying to tell us that in his own very personal classic non cliche smart and witty way!

A MUST FOR MOVIE LOVERS.

almost a farce

[bbbl67 · 9 May 2003]

This movie could in some ways qualify to be a farce, though it's not quite Monty Python. The story is about a hapless writer/student/waiter from Egypt trying desperately to stay in England, and all of the schemes he gets into to try to stay. The situations he gets into are unbelievable (that's why I think this movie should be considered a farce), but always entertaining.

BTW, if you liked this movie you might also like the film, The Guru. The Guru however is not quite as likeable as this film.

Cringeworthy

[Edi_Drums · 2 January 2007]

I find myself disagreeing with other comments, having discovered this film to be ridiculous and cringe-worthy.

It painted an absurd picture of London, the plot revealing abyss after gaping abyss. The laughably bad acting, combined with sudden and predictable jumps in the plot, almost led me to turn off the television at several points.

I can't believe that Taghmaoui is the same lad who was so well cast, and shone, in La Haine. If he's supposed to be Egyptian, why the strong French accent? I have seen Clémentine Célarié in Lawless Heart, and in this film she confirmed herself to me as a crummy actress.

I am aghast that this film was ever released, finding it as foolishly clumsy as Ali and Ahmed's shots at the snooker table.