Walk Away and I Stumble (2007)

Simply A Masterpiece

hyped garbage

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

This has to be the dreariest weepie I've ever watched and I've seen a lot. After all, we have the Women's Television Network here in Canada.The problem is that the film lasts 180 minutes in two 90 minute segments. I despise the two-parter because the TV listings in Canadian newspapers never say that it's the first or second of two parts. Fortunately I looked it up in IMDb so I managed to tape both parts when it came on the CBC. Unfortunately, I looked it up in IMDb and saw the misleading good reviews this turkey received.The subject matter of "Walk Away and I Stumble" doesn't deserve 180 minutes of examination. The main problem, a security system repairman with too many hormones (how many oversexed men have we seen in this genre) boinking a woman who discovers she has inoperable brain cancer (how many dying women do we need to see in this genre). So, the extra space is filled in with minor problems and sins, like the neglected pubescent daughter, the "good friend" after the neglected wife's pants and the ne'er do well boyfriend unable to commit.Instead of filling in the dead air with all these side issues, the writers should have used the time to profitably explain the gaps in the main plot. I'm baffled by Elaine's change of mind about her sexual rival and her acceptance into the household. Maybe my inability to understand some of the sea changes in the characters is due to the mumbleitis that most of the main adult characters seem to be afflicted with. I don't know why I can understand the children and teens but the adults need subtitles.I am a fan of the British film industry. They seem to do so much more with fewer resources than their American resources. But when the British film industry "drops a clanger", they can be world class at serving up turkey.

I had to be the first to get in a comment on this programme and let everybody know what I have just witnessed. Quite simply, it is the worst television drama I have watched this year so far. It was shown in two parts, and after the appalling first extract I have no idea why I sat through the second. I must be a budding masochist at heart. Anyway, this is car-crash TV at its best, with some truly horrible acting and direction combined with some of the most inexplicable character writing I've ever seen. To see it is to believe it.Tamzin Outhwaite plays a 30-something woman who has an affair with a married man. His wife of 14 years in understandably devastated by this, as is his teenage daughter with the tragic haircut. But, when our Tammy finds out she has an inoperable brain tumour (Yep, that staple of TV weepies) and only a few months to live, she decides she is being selfish and sends him back to his partner. Then she decides, (for reasons unknown) to marry her slimy, cheating ex, but then has a last minute change of heart. What will she do next? There now follows a real shaggy dog story over 3 hours of drama, where nobody acts like a human being and the performances are even worse than the wretched dialogue (though it is a close run thing).There will always be a market for this brand of undemanding soap-opera melodrama, which is guaranteed to have middle age women and soft hearted blokes tuning in in their droves. But in this particular case, the long list of flaws that come along with the blubbering make it beneath even the most lenient of expectations. A longer, more tedious mess of a production you'd be hard pressed to find, and if you ever watch this believe me.. you'll stop looking. Apparently Tamzin has dreams of Hollywood, but after seeing her in this I'd be surprised if she can get a walk-on part in Neighbours. She is expressionless, her delivery is as flat as roadkill, and when it comes to her crying scenes she looks like she's broken a nail, rather than dying of a terminal disease. Anna Friel she ain't.Some people with very low standards may decide to hold for the ending, under the hope that they can have a good cry and forget all the other faults. But seeing as these are individuals we couldn't care less about due to their nutty personalities and unsympathetic actions, why should we give a damn? Believe me, I can be as emotional as the next guy. I got a bit teary eyed at the end of The Shawshank Redemption, and Titanic set me off completely. But then, those are in an entirely different universe of quality compared to this. So please believe me: the only sobbing you'll be doing at the end will be due to the loss of 180 minutes of your life that you'll never recover. Don't say I didn't warn you.. 0/10

Well.....I have never given a TV Drama an 8 before EVER.This I feel warrants it, as I don't think that I have ever watched such an emotive, powerful Drama that most people in their late 20's/30's will associate with almost immediately.In my opinion, this is Outhwaite's strongest performance to date, and she is well supported by Julie Graham and Mark Strong. Hard to believe that this was the Ditzy Blonde from Eastenders not a million years ago.All set in Wiltshire, which makes a pleasant change from London or Manchester as location goes, it tells the story of a happily married, family man who's head is turned by a single girl. The result is that he starts to view life completely differently, and puts everything on the line in the process.Unfortunately, the girl, Claire (Outhwaite)is diagnosed with Cancer not long after they get together, and this forces some painful and at times heart-rending decisions by BOTH parties.It stirs a lot of emotions, and for the more sensitive WILL end in tears.There is a fantastic Soundtrack to this Drama, with classics from UB40, Led Zeppelin and most notably, Kate Bush. For anyone wondering what the Track was (and I've noticed some Bulletin Boards questioning it already!)the Track is This Womans Work, taken from the Album The Sensual World.Whilst not renowned for it, I am hoping that ITV release this Drama onto DVD, or at the very least, re-run it in the near future.Fantastic!!

Fantastic Drama........Tamzin and Julia at there best, Such an emotional storyline Everyone who I have spoken to watched the first part last night and I have had texts all the way through the 2nd partIt is an absolute powerful drama based on a Married Man who chooses to have an affair, and after telling and leaving his wife and family he learns his love interest has a terminal disease and has 4 months to live, He braves telling his wife the situation and the dying lady chooses to wed her ex partner and runs from the altar to be rescued by the married mans wife who chooses to care for her in her home where she dies....Fantastic A Must See