Wicked Little Letters

Colman and Buckley know how to make this material sing, and there are moments when both actors managed to make me squeeze out an authentic tear or two, only to have me enthusiastically giggling a scene or two later.

The range of insults sprinkled in with a healthy dose of f-bombs is truly awe-inspiring. The letters are spicy for the villagers, but for a modern-day audience, they're just delightfully silly.

It’s saved, first by strong performances from Buckley, always effortlessly believable, and Colman, expert at laying bare the clammy soul of easily dismissible women. And second, by the letters themselves...

So much fun, ridiculous, and at the end of the day it's a women's empowerment movie in an odd sort of way.

A very funny little British comedy that I cannot believe was inspired by a true story.

It’s a little story, but it’s wicked fun.

There’s comic value in hearing the prim and proper Edith read aloud the offending letters, but the proceedings also incorporate many poignant moments.

Wicked Little Letters” works as light entertainment for several reasons: the art direction ... the funny letters ... and Colman’s amusingly over-the-top work. ... Best of all, though, is Buckley, whose rebellious Rose is just a joy to behold.

It’s a compelling commentary that makes its case fairly well through engagingly playful performances and solid use of camerawork.

This is the type of film that Britain excels at, films with a stern point about class, gender and a time and place. Yet one not above fart jokes, slapstick humour and the utter joy of hearing Olivia Colman scream the C-word.