Jack and Sarah
Jack and Sarah is a 1995 British romantic comedy film written and directed by Tim Sullivan and starring Richard E. Grant, Samantha Mathis, Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins, Cherie Lunghi and Ian McKellen. The film was originally released in the UK on 2 June 1995.
| Jack and Sarah | |
|---|---|
 Original film poster (US) | |
| Directed by | Tim Sullivan |
| Produced by | Simon Channing-Williams Pippa Cross Janette Day |
| Written by | Tim Sullivan |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Simon Boswell |
| Cinematography | Jean-Yves Escoffier |
| Edited by | Lesley Walker |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Gramercy Pictures (USA) |
Release date |
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Running time | 110 minutes |
| Country | France United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $218,626 (USA) (sub-total) £2,475,758 (UK)[1] |
Plot
Jack (Richard E. Grant) and Sarah (Imogen Stubbs) are expectant parents, renovating their home for their soon-to-be expanding family. One night, Jack drinks too much and bangs his head. He wakes in hospital to find that Sarah had died after giving birth to their daughter. Grief-stricken, Jack rejects fatherhood, leaving the baby girl in the care of his parents and Sarah's mother (Eileen Atkins).
During this time, Jack relies heavily on drink, and befriends a homeless alcoholic man in a nearby skip (trash dumpster). Knowing Jack needs to get back into his life, Jack's father (David Swift) decides to introduce Jack to his daughter by placing the child in bed next him as he sleeps off another all-night bender. The three grandparents then wait in Jack’s kitchen until he wakes. Initially overcome by the child and feeling sabotaged, Jack bonds with his daughter. He quickly becomes a doting father as he continues to mourn the loss of his wife. In honour of his wife, Jacks names the child Sarah.
Fatherhood comes naturally to Jack, but he struggles with balancing raising his daughter, house renovation construction, and with his day-time job. In an odd turn of events, the homeless man from the skip comes to visit and Jack offers him work around the house. William (Ian McKellen), once sober, proves to be a remarkably efficient babysitter and housekeeper. William and Sarah’s grandparents are often present to help Jack, Jack realises that he needs is a full-time live-in nanny to care for Sarah. Unfortunately, the interview process finds candidates who are cold or detached or just plain strange, much to Jack and the grandparents’ dismay.
In a chance outing at a restaurant with Sarah, Jack encounters the waitress Amy (Samantha Mathis), an American living in London. Amy instantly takes a shine to Sarah and Sarah to her, and Jack offers her the nanny position on the spot. Within the week, Amy moves into Jack and Sarah’s house and begins her new job caring for Sarah.
Although Amy clashes with William and the grandparents, especially Jack's mother, Margaret (Judi Dench), Jack and Amy gradually grow closer—but Jack's boss has also taken an interest in him.
Cast
- Richard E. Grant as Jack
- Samantha Mathis as Amy
- Judi Dench as Margaret
- Eileen Atkins as Phil
- Cherie Lunghi as Anna
- Imogen Stubbs as Sarah
- Ian McKellen as William
- Bianca Lee & Sophia Lee as Baby Sarah
- Sophia Sullivan as Baby Sarah (as a toddler)
Reception
The theme song in this film is "Stars" by British pop group Simply Red.