Grow, a new British family film starring Nick Frost, Jane Horrocks, and Golda Rosheuvel, offers a polished and charming seasonal treat. The movie follows Dinah, an agronomist-owner played by Rosheuvel, who decides to go organic on her family-run farm after being inspired by her magical niece Charlie, portrayed by Priya-Rose Brookwell. Charlie can sense plants' emotions by touch, a gift that drives the story forward.
The plot centers on Charlie and Dinah bonding over several seasons as they grow a pumpkin for the annual village competition. Charlie hopes to use the prize money to find her mother, who is rumored to have run off to become a movie star in California. The mother is later revealed to be Kathryn Drysdale, another Bridgerton alumnus like Rosheuvel.
The supporting cast is packed with veteran British comedic talent. Nick Frost plays a hippy horticulturist offering pumpkin-growing advice, while Jane Horrocks and Tim McInnerny portray the Smythe-Gherkins, evil local toffs determined to win the prize for glory alone. Young Dominic McLaughlin plays Charlie's school friend Oliver, showcasing impressive comic timing and a Scottish accent that feels somewhat random in the setting. McLaughlin has been cast as Harry Potter in the upcoming TV show.
Director John McPhail keeps the comedy buoyant, resulting in serviceable pre-bedtime entertainment for the season. The film's story beats arrive with metronomic precision, and characters feel somewhat lab-grown, which is ironic given the organic farm setting. The overpolished script fails to explain why Charlie and Dinah are only recently introduced, but the film remains a perfectly serviceable family heartwarmer.
