Review of The Lady in the Van

Somewhat of an acquired taste this film, because it is not without its many weaknesses. The film focuses on Alan Bennett (here played as two characters – himself, and himself the writer) and his interactions with an elderly woman he allowed to live out of a van she parked on his driveway. The nature of the film means it is very Bennett in its tone, and it has an enjoyable buttoned-up feeling to it in the most part. That said it isn't quite as engaging as it really should be. The story doesn't connect up as well as the narration suggests, and it does frequently feel like it is being drawn out more than it can bare – in particular the resolutions, which go on much too long and lose the charm they needed.

The performances more or less carry the film though. Jennings does a great impression of Bennett, but more than that he does give strong performances in both positions. He was the better character, but Smith is great as the lady of the title. She has a lot of energy and well observed presence and humor throughout. I think the thing that shows how good the two leads are, is that we can believe why the other allows the other to be in their lives and be that way. The downside of this is that the two performances are better than the film itself is; so at times they do drive it forward by force of presence, but they cannot do it all – and when performances takes a step back, the film suffers.