A gem of a little movie about finding ones voice, not judging others before you get to know them, rediscovering lost passions and fulfilling one's potential. It almost has a quirky "Amelie" feel to it, with Jessica B. Findlay's portrayal of the seemingly OCD afflicted Bella, which is nicely counterpointed by Tom Wilkinson's irascible Alfie, her grumpy next door neighbor who has seemingly lost his love for everything but his precious back garden, and, he takes it quite personally that Bella has neglected hers, and let it wither away to weeds, not so much from neglect as for "fear and loathing" to use her words.

The two are thrown together when Bella, trying to retrieve a drawing left behind by the nerdy, but dashing Billy (Jeremy Irvine) at the Library where she works, which she then took home, where it unfortunately gets blown into her garden tree during a storm. She tries to retrieve it, but slips, and wakes up in Alfie's parlor, as she apparently knocked herself unconscious falling out of said tree, and was then retrieved by the grumpy old man who called his doctor. In the process we meet his house keeper/ cook Vernon, (Andrew Scott) who Alfie bullies, so, when he has to leave to pick up his daughters, Alfie insists he sweep up the dirt that Bella has tracked all over the carpet. Bella intervenes, and does it for him so he can leave.

Vernon shows up at Bella's the next morning to make her breakfast as a thank you for relieving him the previous evening, but, Alfie shows up making demands to the point that Vernon gives him a "be nice or I'll quit" ultimatum and so Alfie fires him, and impulsively, Bella tells him he can work for her. He agrees, and this sets up a tug of war for Vernon's services which escalates, culminating with Archie sicking the lease agent on Bella, who was going to evict her for not keeping up the garden, but, Vernon deftly wrangles her a 30 day reprieve, IF she restores the garden. But remember Bella has the proverbial BROWN thumb, and no gardening skills. What to do what to do?

Alfie the grump watches her struggle for several days, and then begins chiding her about her lack of skills, all the while demanding she "return Vernon", as if she stole him, or he was his property. Vernon it turns out is an accomplished cook, and Alfie has had to resort to cold cheese sandwiches and tinned stew. Eventually an "arrangement" is worked out to SHARE Vernon if he helps her get the garden back in shape. I realize that was a long set up, but, it is well worth the time it takes to watch it.

Other developments occur when Bella starts "catching feelings" for Billy the dashing nerd, which leads to mutual affection, confusion, hurt feelings, and eventually redemption, as Bella finally finds her voice, and her bliss., and Alfie rekindles his passion for life.

I quite enjoyed the movie, and didn't find it trite or cloying in the least. But then, I guess I never found being jaded and cynical attractive..