Plots with a View: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|2002 film}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Plots with a View (Undertaking Betty)

| image = Undertaking Betty.jpg

| caption = International theatrical poster

| director = [[Nick Hurran]]

| producer = [[Michael Cowan]]<br />Suzanne Lyons<br />Jason Piette<br />[[Kate Robbins]]

| writer = Frederick Ponzlov

| starring = [[Brenda Blethyn]]<br />[[Alfred Molina]]<br />[[Naomi Watts]]<br />[[Lee Evans (comedian)|Lee Evans]]<br />[[Christopher Walken]]

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| editing = [[John Richards (editor)|John Richards]]

| studio = [[Great British Films]]<br>[[Snowfall Films]]<br>[[Spice Factory]]

| distributor = [[Miramax Films]]

| released = {{Film date|2002}}

| runtime = 88 minutes

| country = United Kingdom<br />United States<br />Germany

| language = English

| budget =

| gross =

}}

'''''Plots with a View''''', released internationally as '''''Undertaking Betty''''', is a 2002 British [[darkromance film|romantic]] [[black comedy film]] written by [[Frederick Ponzlov]], directed by [[Nick Hurran]], starring [[Brenda Blethyn]], [[Robert Pugh]], [[Alfred Molina]], [[Naomi Watts]], [[Lee Evans (comedian)|Lee Evans]] and [[Christopher Walken]]. The film began filming in Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales, UK in 2002, and was released in the U.S. on November 12, November 2005, with a DVD release on 7 March 7, 2006.

==Plot==

Boris Plots, is director of Plots Funeral HomesHome in the fictional Welsh village of Wrottin Powys, dreamed of only two things as a young boy: dancing and Betty. BettyHis secretlyrival lovedFrank BorisFeatherbed, butan could not fight her father's wishesAmerican, sois she was married offdetermined to a gold digger. Boris gave up his dreams and took overrevolutionise the family's undertaking business. Everything has remained status quo in theirBritain lives until Betty's mother-in-law dies. Boris and Betty are thrust together again and as they discussthrough the funeralinnovation arrangementsof for Betty's mother-in-law, the old spark is"themed rekindledfunerals".

Boris dreamed of only two things as a young boy: dancing and Betty Rhys-Jones. Betty secretly loved Boris, but could not fight her father's wishes, so she was married off to a gold digger.

Her funeral will be held at Plots Funeral Homes, much to the chagrin of rival funeral director, Frank Featherbed. Featherbed, an American, is determined to revolutionise the undertaking business in Britain through the innovation of "theme" funerals. Boris discovers that the only obstacle between their love for one another, is her marriage to the two-timing Mayor. In a desperate bid for happiness Boris and Betty decide to stage her death and run away together.

Giving up his dreams, Boris took over the family's undertaking business. When Betty's mother-in-law, Dillys, dies, they are thrust together again and as they discuss the funeral arrangements for Betty's mother-in-law, the old spark is rekindled.

Her funeral will be held at Plots Funeral Homes, much to the chagrin of rival funeral director, Frank Featherbed. Featherbed, an American, is determined to revolutionise the undertaking business in Britain through the innovation of "theme" funerals. Boris discovers that the only obstacle between their love for one another, is her marriage to the two-timingadulterous MayorCouncilor Hugh Rhys-Jones. In a desperate bid for happiness Boris and Betty decide to stage her death and run away together.

At the same time, Hugh's mistress and secretary insists that they try to poison her. Before they can, Boris and Betty go through with their plan, but Frank rushes to the scene. He and Boris fight over the right to handle the funeral arrangements. After an argument and scuffle, the medical examiner said it was her dying wish to be handled by Plots.

In the church, both the mistress and Hugh talk about her, she about the affair, he gloating about inheriting all of her money. Then he insists watching while Boris seals the lid, making it impossible for Betty to sneak away.

With a lot of difficulty, Boris manages to free Betty with only Frank and his right-hand man discovering the secret. She and Boris enlist their help, after Boris and Frank agree to split the funeral business. Together they help Betty scare Hugh and the secretary (setting up the house with ghostly gadgets), who both flee.

Betty also appears as a ghost to neighbour boy Willie, whose mum passed before, telling him his mum says hi, and she loves him very much. We learn Betty leaves everything to young Willie, and an allowance to Hugh if he follows a long list of conditions. The girl goes on Jerry Springer as a haunted mistress; Betty and Boris go on the Princess cruise they were planning; their cats go too.

==Cast==

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==Production==

The movie was filmed on ___location in [[Monmouthshire, Wales]] in [[Monmouthshire]], [[South Glamorgan, Wales]], [[Vale of Glamorgan, Wales]], [[Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales]], and [[Denbighshire, Wales]].

The dance sequences were choreographed by [[Peter Darling]] and the costumes were designed by [[Ffion Elinor]].

==Reception==

The 2002 ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' review noted its "near-miraculous balance between the silly and the morbid" and referred to it as "enjoyable and entertainingly cast" even though it was "unlikely to bury the competition".<ref>{{cite news |url=httphttps://www.variety.com/review/VE1117919286?refcatid=31 |title=Plots With a View (U.K.) |first=Lisa |last=Nesselson |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=November 7, 2002 }}</ref> In 2005, the ''The [[Los Angeles Times]]'' described it as succeeding in sustaining its "deliberate silliness" though it might work better for home viewing than in theatres, and described its cast as "first rate."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-undertaking11nov11,0,4863759.story |archiveurl=httphttps://web.archive.org/web/20060318040007/http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-undertaking11nov11,0,4863759.story |archivedate=2006-03-18 |date=November 11, 2005 |title=''Undertaking Betty'' |first= Kevin |last=Crust |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> ''DVD Talk'' was less enthusiastic: "though kind of a mess, and not really all that funny, ''Undertaking Betty'' still feels barely recommendable, thanks to a colorful cast of true characters."<ref>{{cite web|title=Undertaking Betty |first=Scott |last=Weinberg | date=March 29, 2006 |publisher=DVDTalk.com |url=httphttps://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/20888/undertaking-betty/ }}</ref> ''Reel Film'' gave it 3 of 4 stars, and described it as "charming, low-key romantic comedy", and though there's "nothing especially groundbreaking or even memorable about ''Undertaking Betty,'' but the undeniably sweet vibe is ultimately quite difficult to resist."<ref>{{cite web|title=Buena Vista's March '06 Releases - Undertaking Betty (March 15/06) |publisher=ReelFilm.com| date=March 15, 2006 | url=http://www.reelfilm.com/bvmar06.htm#under}}</ref>

===Recognition===

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==External links==

* {{Official website|http://www.miramax.com/movie/undertaking-betty}}

* {{Amg movie|286679|Plots with a View}}

* {{IMDb title|0298504}}

* {{Rotten Tomatoes|undertaking_betty}}

* {{Letterboxd title | undertaking-betty }}

{{Nick Hurran}}

[[Category:2000s2002 romantic comedy films]]

[[Category:2002 films]]

[[Category:BlackBritish black comedy films]]

[[Category:Films directed by Nick Hurran]]

[[Category:Films scored by Rupert Gregson-Williams]]

[[Category:British romantic comedy films]]

[[Category:2000s English-language films]]

[[Category:2000s British films]]

[[Category:English-language romantic comedy films]]