Directed by Stephen (‘High Fidelity’ and ‘The Queen’) Frears this is a film set firmly on familiar territory: Someone who has moved to the big city and by circumstance must return home facing issues and people they left behind the first time. I was reminded of other films like ‘Sweet Home Alabama’, ‘Garden State’ and ‘Elizabethtown.’

What sets this effort apart from those films is its quintessentially rural English setting and that alone makes it stand out. From the opening moments when we are introduced to Beth, the excellent Tamsin Greig as a loyal but unappreciated wife, her husband the vain, arrogant, cheating husband Nicholas (another fine turn by Roger Allam) and the guests staying on their sprawling farm at a ‘writers retreat’ we are sucked in to this world of eccentrics and country life in little England.

The film does have its clichés and stereotypes, but these are minor quibbles in an otherwise thoroughly engaging and sharply scripted comedy. There is always plenty going on and I loved watching all the little intrigues and plots unfolding with both comic and tragic consequences.

Initially I thought the films focus would be entirely on its titular character, not so. It looks at many tangled relationships and the often confusing emotions of attraction and infatuation. Bill Camp puts in a great turn as frustrated visiting American writer Glen who holds a secret torch for Beth. Another performance to look out for is Jessica Barden as the mischievous and obsessed teen Jody. The time flew by which is always a good thing. I have seen other English efforts such as this ruined by descending into ‘sit-com’ territory, luckily ‘Tamara Drewe’ deftly avoids this pitfall and holds the viewers interest from its quirky opening scenes right up to its dramatic and unexpected conclusion.

If you are fed up with the usual offerings at the cinema then give this one a chance. It will probably both surprise and thoroughly entertain you.