I recently watched this quintessentially charming film, based upon and adapted from the original screenplay of the wonderfully original and iconic Alan Bennett. It tells the "mostly true" story of the titular lady in said van; of Miss Mary Shepherd/Margaret Fairchild, an eccentric homeless woman who lived inside a Bedford van, which remained parked in Bennett's driveway for 15 years during the 70s and 80s.
And that's about it really - that is the nub of the tale, with a few dramatic embellishments thrown around along the way. Some have criticised this film for the sheer lack of movement and development within the plot, and indeed Maggie Smith's Lady in the Van remaining parked on the road and in the driveway of Alex Jennings' Alan Bennett is pretty much the state of affairs for most of the film. In fact the most movement we get is the eponymous van moving a few yards up the street, or else the occasional emergence of a new van for Maggie Smith to drive and inhabit. It is true, that in terms of geography, and in some senses in terms of sheer pure plot, there is very little movement. But it just does not need any.
The sheer joy of Maggie Smith and her embodiment of Alan Bennett's most unlikely neighbour is enough to hold your attention for an hour and a half, more so in fact. Yes, at times there is a little bit of forced drama foisted onto her character (again possibly in a bid to aid the aforementioned lack of development) but I just don't care - Maggie Smith is perfect to watch as ever. She is perfectly suited to the role of a cantankerous, bullying, manipulative, aloof, and yet intrinsically noble, joyous and lovable woman who lights up the screen.
In essence, Dame Maggie Smith proves yet again why she is...well...Dame Maggie Smith (not that she ever needs to). For as long as I can remember, Maggie Smith has always delivered countless examples of her sheer acting genius, and The Lady in the Van is surely no exception.
You may imagine then, that trying to even remotely keep up with such acting power and perfection as Maggie Smith would be next to impossible, and yes there are times when she dwarfs and douses the potential acting fire of anyone else on screen, as is expected. However this film also serves up a stellar cast to surround her. Firstly, a joy to see the History Boys pop up in cameos (James Corden's was brief like the rest but hilarious!) and we also get to see the likes of Roger Allam, Frances de la Tour and Deborah Findlay as Bennett's deliciously delightful neighbours, and Jim Broadbent as a dastardly skulking scoundrel of a menacing policeman.
However, if there was anyone in this picture who could even come close to Maggie Smith in terms of screen presence, it is Alan Bennett as portrayed by Alex Jennings. And actually, he does just that - so much so that he and Maggie Smith enhance each other when they are together on screen, and when he is alone (or with "himself") you do just tend to forget about the Lady in the Van for a second. His voice is perfect Bennett, as are his mannerisms and wry wit, and the idea and execution of Writer Alan and Liver Alan is inspired. All this plus some brilliant Bennett one-liners make a hilarious and joyous spectacle to behold.
OK, so it might not be the most dynamic story ever told, but it is certainly one of the most interesting, intrinsic, human, hilarious and joyful that I have seen committed to film in recent memory. To me The Lady in the Van is definitely a keeper.
