Maggie Smith is one of a cavalcade of British actors that,
thanks to a pop culture phenomenon that the original creator keeps bringing
back in public consciousness every few weeks or so, everyone should be at least
partially familiar with. Of course, just calling her Professor McGonagall would
be a massive disservice to a very prominent actor, having done numerous
Shakespeare adaptations as well creeping into the collective consciousness
through the side door thanks to her portrayal of Wendy in Spielberg’s Hook.
However, even with her storied history behind her, the last few years haven’t
been kind to Dame Smith. Don’t get me wrong, I hear good things about Quartet
and My Old Lady, but in the space of 4 years since Deathly Hallows Part 2 was
released, she has appeared in the mindfrag Shakespeare pissing-on-grave that is
Gnomeo & Juliet as well as the previously reviewed death knells that are
the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel films. I can be forgiven, even considering her
definite skill in the craft, for being a little hesitant with this one.
