‘Wicked Little Letters’: a pleasant but disappointing British comedy about obscenity

Wicked Little Letters starts with a title card in loopy handwriting: “This is more true than you’d think.” And so it is. The British comedy is based on the strange-but-true tale of a devout spinster and her neighbors in the small English town of Littlehampton, who start receiving profane anonymous letters in the early 1920s, just after World War I. A local cop named Gladys Moss gets a nice one. “Dear Gladys, thank God they killed your father, you disgusting bitch... you dirty rabbit fucker. You deserve to burn in hell, you decrepit old whore.” Such a letter could unsettle nearly anyone, yet in this tranquil community, it soon turned into a full-on police investigation.

Due to its setting, community spirit and nostalgic charm, Wicked Little Letters at first seems like it’s trying to revive the classic comedies of the late ‘40s and ‘50s by London’s Ealing Studios. While it aims to capture the eccentricity and social satire of that era, the film falls short. Director Thea Sharrock and screenwriter Jonny Sweet play it safe with a comedy that may appeal to a wide audience but lacks any daring. The stellar cast tries to elevate the film, but is ultimately unable to overcome the shortcomings of the script and direction.

Olivia Colman shines once more playing a character who effortlessly transitions from sweet and vulnerable to fiercely enraged, revealing the hidden complexities within. In a world constrained by Puritanical mores, Jessie Buckley’s character exudes a rebellious charm when she gets drunk in the local pub, drops F-bombs every few minutes and sleeps with a Black man. Their on-screen dynamic, though previously captivating in The Lost Daughter (2021), lacks the anticipated spark and flair. Timothy Spall’s portrayal of Colman’s tyrannical father rounds out a cast that strives to convey the struggles of the nascent women’s suffrage movement of the early 20th century.

Thea Sharrock, known for her work as a theater director, narrates the tale of a sorority led by a “female police officer” (a term of the times) who is also a person of color. Despite its attempts at modernity, Wicked Little Letters falls short, failing to delve into the underlying theme of societal hypocrisy surrounding a scandal that made headlines, even reaching the Parliament. While some may appreciate the performances and laugh at the creative obscenities in the letters, discerning viewers seeking a witty Ealing-style comedy will immediately see that it doesn’t quite measure up.

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