This is one of the least know, but most charming films I have ever scene.seen.

Every child deserves to have a father like Edward Pettigrew (Firth). As Frazier describes his father, " Father is an inventer and a genius!!!"

The film begins with a toddler Frazier, disliking his rest time, decides to have an adventure by crawling around the roof of the family castle in Argyll, Scotland. Father climbs down the steep roof with a rope attached to his waist and rescues wee Frazier, all the while barking like a dog. Frazier, (who makes comments throughout the film),observes that at that time in his life, he and his father ONLY communicated in DOG, the language they both spoke best.

Naturally the film has a romantic and potentially explosively moment between Father and his brother-in-law's fiance- a 24 year old French muscian who is quite beautiful and charming. She is also very wise for her years and managed to defuse the situation before it blows up. Never-the-less, the wife, played beautifully by Mary Elizabeth Mastreontonio, finds out at a crucial moment in the film and those rock-solid marriage nearly ends at a most tragic time in young Frazier's life.

But father, being a genius, finds a way to heal the wounds caused by his split-second decision to give in to his baser instincts. The WAY he gets his wife to forgive him and laugh again is pure magic.

Colin Firth never looked so handsome. Not even his glorious Mr. Darcy is so appealing. This role gives him the opportunity to show all his sides. His glorious, looney sense of humor as well as his gift for drama without words. Here he is active, leaping into a freezing cold Locke, running up and down stairs, inventing things, saving his son, dancing with his wife. He gets to laugh and cry and be HUMAN.

For those who discovered Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, My Life So Far is the glorious update!

My Life So Far in DVD has a place on honor in my collection of over 500 DVD's and VHS' One of my favorites, and, I hope soon to be yours.

"My Life So Far" is a memoir where a man looks back at his life in Scotland when he was a child. In some ways, it's quite reminiscent of Marcel Pagnol's wonderful films about his childhood ("My Father's Glory" and "My Mother's Castle"),though Pagnol's life is much more satisfying to watch (or read about)--mostly because the mood is so much more consistent. With "My Life So Far", it begins with humor and for a while you assume the film is a comedy. You really like the family and the way the child views life. Later, however, the film turns much darker and the characters, who you liked, act rather vile. Because of this, it feels a bit unsatisfying because the abrupt changes in mood really took me out of the story. I know life IS sometimes this way, but I really wish the film had made up its mind and chosen a single course. Not a bad time passer but not a film I heartily recommend either.

I picked 1999's "My Life So Far" to watch because the DVD cover made it look like something light – maybe a romcom, I wasn't sure – and after almost an hour went by I found myself thinking, "What the fokk is this movie about?!" This is perhaps why one reviewer described it as "not plot-driven." Thankfully, I was able to catch a grip with the final third of the film where the various story elements came together. This is basically a coming-of-age tale of a boy, Fraser, who's around 10-11 years-old in 1920's Scotland. His family lives on one of those huge country manors with a strong matriarch, Gammy (Rosemary Harris),and a household staff. Elderly Uncle Morris (Malcolm McDowell) visits with his young French fiancé, Heloise (Irène Jacob),who incites the fascination of both Fraser and his dad, Edward (Colin Firth). Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio plays Edward's wife.

The film immediately brings to mind 1993's excellent "The Secret Garden" due to the fact that both take place on British country estates in the early 1900s, albeit the former in Scotland and the latter in England. While "The Secret Garden" is the superior film, "My Life So Far" won me over despite my initial apprehension. Fraser's coming-of-age parallels his father's maturing. Edward is a likable inventor who runs the sphagnum moss business. He's fun, likable and preaches at his church, but he's resistant to change and refers to jazz as the devil's music. His spirituality is tested by the arrival of Heloise and is found wanting; worse, he can't hide his childish infatuation from his wife.

It wasn't until AFTER watching "My Life So Far" that I realized how smart it is. It makes its many points simply through showing the day-to-day life of the Pettigrew family one season in 1927. For instance, although Edward is right about the brilliance of Beethoven, he's wrong about jazz. And although his good side shines brightly, his glaring hypocrisy cannot be condoned. This isn't just testimony to the power of a beautiful woman; it's testimony to the necessity of character and faithfulness. These are just a couple examples and I expect to raise my rating the next time I view it because this seems like one of those films that gets better on the second (and third and fourth) watch.

The film runs 98 minutes and was shot in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK.

GRADE: B

***SPOILER ALERT*** Do not read further unless you've seen the film.

Did Edward have "carnal knowledge" of Heloise? No. Edward comes on to Heloise in the moss loft (or whatever) and she clearly rejects him, albeit respectfully. Later, during the big blow-up, he informs his brother-in-law, Morris, that he had sex with her because Morris was his rival for the estate, but it's A LIE. We know this because Heloise plainly declined his advances. So why did Edward lie? Evidently to stick-it-to his rival and cause the ensuing marriage problems. It was also his way of getting back at Heloise for (gently) rejected him. Bear in mind that on no occasion was Heloise guilty of improper conduct; she's almost godly and even rebukes Edward's hypocrisy at the dinner table, albeit subtly. Edward's lie was a very ignoble thing to do and it made me lose respect for him, but it was the result of his pent-up frustrations. Thankfully, he later humbly repents, to which his wife forgives and they go on to blissful matrimony.

I hope he apologized to Morris and, especially, Heloise as well.