it generally go without say that a film adaptation be never go to be as good a the novel on which it be base and but i can not think of another novel into film that miss the mark so completely a this one . the book be insightful andtouching but also very funny and with some really wonderful and original language . it clever and poignant and have one of the most delightful narrator out there . the movie and on the other hand and get so bogged down with sentimentality that it just drag along and devoid of energy . there be some beautiful location and the cast look good and seem capable enough and but it be direct a a heavy dramawith deep dark pain at it core instead of a romantic coming of age story that mixes comedy and drama and quirky charm in equal measure . everyone in themovie just seem so miserable and even in scene where theyre suppose to behappy . the voice over narration be one of the big problem . in the book the story be tell through the journal entry of 17 year old cassandra mortmain and a very bright aspire writer and and her voice have an intensity and precociousness and excitement that just hurl the reader blissfully along while but in the moviecassandra voice over narration lack every single one of these quality and instead have a solemn and mournful tone . this be probably more the director fault than the actress and although some blame should also go to the screenwriter and who have the unfortunate habit of substitute her own annoyingly mediocre narration and dialogue in place of the often brilliant language that readily available in dodie smith novel . the writer also seem to have felt the need to invent more than one scene completely out of nowhere while one huge scene in particularbetween cassandra and her father be not only not in the book and but it contradict everything the book stand for and in such a maudlin and obvious and movie of the week type of way . sadly and they really blow it with this interpretation of athoroughly enjoyable book .