12 in a Box is a 2007 British independent comedy film written and directed by John McKenzie.[1] The film premiered at the 2007 Zurich Film Festival.[2]
| 12 in a Box | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | John McKenzie |
| Written by | John McKenzie |
| Produced by | Bruce Windwood |
| Starring | Kenneth Collard Miranda Hart Belle Hithersay Anjella Mackintosh Glynne Steele Katy Wix |
Production company | Masses Entertainment |
| Distributed by | Cinevolve |
Release date |
|
Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot
edit12 in a Box sees twelve people attend what they think is a school reunion lunch but when they get there they discover that, as part of the last wish of a dead classmate, they will inherit £1,000,000 each if they can all stay together in the house for 96 hours.[3] With one of the participants due to be married and another dropping stone dead on the first day, they have their work cut out to go the distance.[1][4]
Release
editThe film was given a limited European release in 2007[citation needed] and had its US premiere in Boston in 2009.[citation needed] Despite being a British film with some notable names in the cast, it was not released in the UK until March 2013.[5][6]
The DVD was released in 2013[7] marketed under Miranda Hart's name due to her recent fame.[1] However, Hart only makes a brief appearance, her screen time totalling 5 minutes.[3][5][6]
Critical response
editThe film received the Audience Award at the 2007 Zurich Film Festival,[8] Indie Spirit Best Storyline Award at the 2009 Boston International Film Festival[9] and the Best Film Award at the 2009 LA British Film Festival.[citation needed] The LA Campus Circle graded the film A− and called it "smart, funny and surprising without being pretentious or hackneyed. There are few dull moments, and it actually succeeds in pulling off the twists."[4] The film was also praised by The Film Review[3] and CineVue.[7] The Guardian, however, gave it a poor review,[5] as did the Radio Times[10] and the Daily Express.[11]
References
edit- ^ a b c Adams, Mark (25 March 2013). "12 In A Box". Screendaily.com. London, United Kingdom: Media Business Insight. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- ^ "Zurich Film Festival: Highlights". 20 September 2007. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
- ^ a b c La Piet, Carla (26 February 2013). "12 In A Box–Review". Thefilmreview.com. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ a b Russell, Melissa (6 August 2009). "12 in a Box". Campus Circle. Los Angeles, United States. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ a b c McCahill, Mike (21 March 2013). "12 in a Box–review". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- ^ a b Kelly, Stephen (18 March 2013). "12 In A Box: A cynical cash-in on Miranda Hart's current comic success". TotalFilm.com. Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom: Future Publishing. Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- ^ a b Nicholson, Ben (March 2013). "DVD Review: '12 in a Box'". Cine-vue.com. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- ^ "'Twelve In A Box'wins the Audience Award at the 2007 Zurich Film Festival". MassessEntertainment.com. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ "BIFF 2009 Award Winners". Boston International Film Festival. 26 April 2009. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ Parkinson, David. "12 in a Box". RadioTimes.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- ^ Hunter, Allan (29 March 2013). "In a Box: Review and Trailer". Express.co.uk. Northern and Shell Media. Retrieved 25 December 2014.