The best stories usually revolve around families. Whether literal or groups of close friends, the familial unit allows all types of tales and reactions to surface. What We Did on Our Holiday is a satisfactory addition to the formula. A light drama full of genuine pathos and solid performances, it shows that blood ties can affect generations.
Travelling with their three children to the Scottish Highlands, estranged couple Doug (David Tennant) and Abi (Rosamund Pike) look forward to a break. Arriving to visit Doug’s father Gordie (Billy Connolly) for his birthday, the family are eager to celebrate. Other plans quickly derail the festivities. Secrets surface and loyalties are tested as everyone realises how fluid familial bonds can be.
What We Did on Our Holiday is a breezy affair imparting few messages. Exploring how lies constrict people from communicating and the damage caused, it is interesting how each generation deals with conflict. The children, in particular, are free of the burden of the frustrated dreams of their parents, with the adults indulging in the worse misbehaviour. Forced to examine their parenting, Doug and Abi have to find a way to re-establish parental boundaries in order to protect their family.
The fine ensemble creates a believable group of odd characters. Their emotions can be seen in any large family trying to work together in maintaining personal connections. Their quirky natures mirror the sly comedy even if the direction occasionally skims over the edge of sentimentality. It is careful never to cross into silliness with various situations grounded in some form of reality. The Scottish locations add to the emotional remoteness all feel.
What We Did on Our Holiday isn’t perfect but it successfully raises a few laughs. Full of charm with genuine poignancy, it plays to the actors’ strengths and underscores the old saying ‘you can choose your friends but never your family’.
Reviewed by Patrick Moore
Twitter: @PatrickMoore14
Rating out of 10: 6
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