Some dark comedies make the mistake of wandering too far into the black. The key is that the deaths – a hallmark of the genre – must be those of the unlikable or, at least, minor characters.

Despite an impressive little body count, Keeping Mum manages to stay cheerful throughout.

The story follows Walter Goodfellow, the vicar of Little Wallop, and his suffering family. His wife Gloria is contemplating an affair with her golf pro, his daughter Holly is sleeping with all comers and young Petey is the constant target of the school bullies.

Not all of these problems can be laid at the feet of Walter, but if he wasn't so wrapped up in the minutiae of church, he could likely solve them all.

Enter Grace Hawkins, the new housekeeper and a dark vision of Mary Poppins, who is compelled to keep the family together, though her reasons for it are not immediately apparent.

Walter is played ably by Rowan Atkinson (Bean, Black Adder), who gives the character an earnest, confused air. He knows something's not right, but he just can't figure out what until the guiding hand of Grace – a subdued Dame Maggie Smith (Gosford Park, the Harry Potter films).

Grace, however, turns out to be a character introduced in the film's opening, who tends to take care of emerging problems with a visceral hand. More to the point, she's murdering people.

The path back to the good life for the Goodfellow family is a bit contrived and certainly convenient, but there is an organic nature to the progression that is the work of good actors.

When Gloria (Kristen Scott Thomas) tells Grace that when her husband found God, he lost his sense of humor, it doesn't take much prodding from Grace to get Walter searching for jokes. It's Atkinson's acting that makes his transformation believable.

Good, also, is Patrick Swayze as the golf pro Lance. His smarmy, sleazy American is a good character, though he looks like someone wearing a Patrick Swayze mask in parts. Time has not been his friend.

Gloria awakening to the actions of Grace is humorous, as is her realization that – sometimes – extreme measures are necessary for the common good.

The Picture

Presented in 16:9 anamorphic full frame widescreen, Keeping Mum is a pretty little picture. Much of the film takes place indoors, but some of the wide shots of the fictional village of Little Wallop (pop. 57) and train scenes are spacious and beautiful. There's no green-screening and no CGI effects, so what you see is what they had.

It's not a showcase film for HD buffs, but there's nothing in the pictures that will distract you from the story.

The Sound

Available stereo and 5.1 Dolby Digital surround work fine, though it's not something that will really wow you. With a dearth of special effects, most of what you get is British dialogue – though there are a few bumps and thumps when Maggie Smith on a mission.

The Extras

Commentary from director Niall Johnson is interesting, especially in the small stuff. He also co-wrote, so he's got a handle on the story and production aspects that makes it an interesting, if not noteworthy, feature.

Also available are bonus scenes, outtakes, bloopers, some extended scenes – including an alternate opening scene – and the theatrical trailer. Most all of it is piffle and nothing in it is particularly compelling.

Missing, however, is the promised "Big Trouble in Little Wallop" making of featurette that's listed on the box, but not on the DVD.

Parting Thoughts...

Keeping Mum is a funny little film that will provide viewers with plenty of gentle laughs and a few bits of nudity. It's not a screamer or a cult classic, but it's pleasant and a bit of an escape and it's dark nature doesn't take away from that at all. I Recommend you give it a try.