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This movie is unconvincing, not funny, and overly forced. It fails to entertain or provide any historical insights about the real-life Littlehampton poison-pen scandal in 1923. Despite having a talented cast led by Olivia Colman, the film is a disappointment. However, the combined talent of the actors does slightly elevate the overall quality of the film.
Colman portrays the character of Edith Swan, an unmarried and proper woman living in the nosy world of 1920s Littlehampton. She prides herself on her Christian values and resides with her grumpy father (Timothy Spall) and stern mother (Gemma Jones). However, Edith’s relationship with her neighbor, Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley), has turned sour after an initial friendship. Rose, a carefree Irish woman who enjoys drinking and swearing, is the prime suspect when Edith starts receiving strange and obscene letters without a signature. As more people in the community also receive these letters, suspicion falls on Rose, who is already disliked by the xenophobic townspeople. However, policewoman Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan) believes there may be more to the situation.
The inappropriate and vulgar tone of Carry On is poorly executed, attempting to be funny without acknowledging the unusual and melancholic aspects of the story. The film fails to work as a mystery because the identity of the culprit is evident from the beginning. Even the police inspector admits that he had considered the prime suspect, but disregarded it due to unreliable handwriting evidence (seriously?). As the culprit is arrested and taken away, the film suggests that this should be a moment of triumphant cursing and rebellion; a highly idealistic and unlikely scene. Overall, the film paints a bleak and unenjoyable picture.
Source: theguardian.com
