Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Phil Hoad

Grey Matter review – feelgood Alzheimer’s film is well-meaning life-lesson comedy

Eloise Smyth and Stephanie Beacham in Grey Matter.
Razzing about … Eloise Smyth and Stephanie Beacham in Grey Matter. Photograph: W4 Films

‘You’ve totally got one of those inspirational quote calendars, haven’t you?” says teenaged Alzheimer’s carer Chloé (Eloise Smyth) in her therapy session. “No, I’ve got three of them,” replies her counsellor. That about sums up this well-meaning but hapless sub-Hallmark comedy-drama – whose attempts to sweeten the subject matter with humour only serve to direct it towards every cliche-branch on its way down the tree of trite life lessons.

Chloé is your typical feckless sixth-former, busy warring with her mum Eileen (Elizabeth Berrington) and bunking off her swimming training. After her grandma Peg (former Dynasty actor Stephanie Beacham) forgets to put the chicken in the oven one day and Eileen moves her into her own home, the youngster is drafted in as an impromptu carer. There’s a certain complicity between Chloé and her otherwise spunky grandparent; wanting to defy the diagnosis, they draw up a “fuck-it list” of things to do. But harsh biological realities cut it short.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.