A star rating of 4 out of 5.
After decades of tirelessly striving for dominance within our beloved homeland, I, a tenacious social climber named Amanda, have finally achieved the recognition I’ve longed for – and truthfully, this spotlight feels like my rightful place.
As a devoted film buff, I found myself deeply moved by the character of Amanda (played brilliantly by Lucy Punch) in Amandaland. Having recently experienced a devastating divorce and with her children now young adults, Amanda finds herself in a new financial predicament. Gone are the days of shopping at Waitrose in Chiswick; instead, she’s navigating the unfamiliar territory of Tesco Metro stores in the emerging SoHa (South Harlesden for those not in the know).
While striving to lift her burgeoning Instagram venture from the ground, Amanda demonstrates a talent for garnering attention, most notably towards single father Mal (Samuel Anderson), who resides in the apartment below and has become accustomed to the endless flow of packages delivered by Amazon.
She quickly reconnects with her old best friend Anne (Philippa Dunne), who guides her, mentions that their children’s school was notorious for a scene from A Clockwork Orange, and informs her about the popular parents in the neighborhood.
In about two seconds, Amanda notices lesbian couples Fi (Rochenda Sandall) and Della Fry (Siobhan McSweeney), who is a renowned chef, and she sees them as her pathway into the upper class circles of SoHa.
Yet, the laidback and unconventional approach to child rearing displayed by them catches Amanda off guard, making it evident that she’s found herself in an unfamiliar situation rather swiftly.
Moreover, she seems to have plenty of responsibilities already, but her mother, Felicity (played by Joanna Lumley), is always around, trying to evade her personal assistant, Joy, instead of referring to her as a PA.
Spin-offs can sometimes walk a fine line between familiarity and innovation, much like Amanda’s current predicament. They must strike a balance between keeping what works from the original and introducing something fresh.
Fortunately, Amandaland does an excellent job of delivering something novel, offering a unique spin on well-known humor through a different group, a fresh setting, and a fresh take on motherhood.
Lucy Punch skillfully portrays Amanda, a character who, despite being rather irritatingly self-centered and annoying according to many, manages to charm the audience. Her unwavering effort to project an image of the “impeccable mother figure” while privately struggling creates a blend of humor and poignancy that feels authentic at times.
In a similar vein, I find myself captivated by Philippa Dunne’s portrayal of Anne, who exudes a bubbly, cheerful demeanor that seems precariously close to an imminent breakdown. It’s almost nerve-wracking to watch her in the most engaging way possible.
Besides Amanda, Siobhan McSweeney and Rochenda Sandall add complexity to her character, as free-spirited Fi and tough-as-nails Della present challenges that Amanda finds difficult to accommodate simultaneously, given her tendency to please others.
The authors’ ongoing exploration of the parent-child bond, and their guidance through this complex relationship as children mature, is remarkably accurate.
Though many may not identify with Amanda’s middle-class social ambitions, we’ve all encountered or experienced situations such as parents picking up their teens after a first attempt at drinking, feeling the pain of overstepping boundaries by parents, or simply yearning to find our place in life, even if we’re unsure about what that entails.
In Amandaland, you’ll find yourself captivated right from when Amanda makes her appearance in her eco-friendly Tesla. There are instances where the humor falls a bit flat or veers a touch too close to the edge of awkwardness, but that’s just how real life can sometimes be.
Overall, it’s fun just to be back in this world, even if it is in a different postcode.
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2025-02-06 01:34