Movie spotlight
Just Like That!
Just Like That! is a celebration of the comic genius of Tommy Cooper - just like that! But nobody could do it just like that apart from the unique Mr Cooper himself, and despite his claim never to have used those words. Was Tommy really Henry Coper's brother? Can Tommy's performance as Hamlet, clown prince, compare with the greats? Was Tommy a ventriloquist at heart? Rare and classic routines and contributions from famous fans help solve the mystery. The friends and fans who take part (many of them confirming that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery) include Adrian Edmondson, Lenny Henry, Henry Cooper, former Goons Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan, writer Dick Hills, Tommy's brother David Cooper (who has himself sadly since died), alternative comedian Steve Murray, The Wow Show and magician Paul Scott. A title montage sequence features further impersonations of the great man from Alexei Sayle, Bob Todd, Patricia Hayes, and Jess Conrad.
Insights
Plot Summary
A middle-aged, recently divorced woman decides to embark on a new phase of her life by opening a struggling bookstore in a new city. She grapples with financial woes and personal insecurities as she tries to make a go of it. Along the way, she forms new friendships and reevaluates her past choices.
Critical Reception
The film received a mixed to negative reception from critics, who often found its plot predictable and its characters underdeveloped. Audiences were similarly unenthusiastic, leading to a limited theatrical release and minimal box office success.
What Reviewers Say
While the premise of a woman reinventing herself held some promise, the execution was often seen as bland and uninspired.
The performances were generally considered adequate but failed to elevate the material.
Critics noted a lack of emotional depth and a predictable narrative arc.
Google audience: Audience reviews for 'Just Like That!' are scarce due to its limited release. Those available generally express disappointment with the film's predictable storyline and lack of engaging character development.
Fun Fact
The film was an early attempt to capitalize on the 'empowerment' narrative for middle-aged women, a theme that would become more prominent in cinema in the following decades.
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