In the self-proclaimed ‘Pumpkin Capital of the World’, no-nonsense curmudgeonly farmer Dinah Little takes in her estranged niece Charlie, who decides to enter the local pumpkin growing competit...
“Grow” is exactly what it promises to be: a big, goofy, pumpkin-sized slice of family fun. This is a film that wears its heart on its sleeve, an exuberant, warmhearted tale about giant pumpkins, eccentric townsfolk, and the kind of unlikely family bond that blossoms when people open themselves up to love. It’s clearly designed to be a feel good, family-friendly adventure that succeeds at delivering exactly the kind of cozy, laughter filled, seasonal story it sets out to tell.
Set in the self-proclaimed “Pumpkin Capital of the World,” the movie tells the story of Dinah Little (Golda Rosheuvel), a tough, stoic farmer with a gruff exterior and little patience for nonsense. Her world is turned upside down when her estranged young niece Charlie (Priya-Rose Brookwell) comes to live with her. Charlie is not your typical kid. She has a natural, almost magical gift for connecting with plants, a talent that quietly reflects her longing to be nurtured and accepted herself. When she learns about the town’s annual pumpkin growing contest, Charlie sees her chance to become a gardening hero.
The movie leans hard into whimsy, with its world filled with giant gourds, eccentric competitors, sabotage schemes, and a pumpkin named Peter that grows as fast as Charlie’s self-confidence. From here, the film follows a familiar but joyful arc. Charlie and Dinah, with the help of eccentric neighbor Arlo (Nick Frost), set out to grow a record breaking pumpkin. Along the way they encounter rival growers who will stop at nothing to win the coveted prize. The pumpkin-growing contest becomes both a source of slapstick chaos and a metaphor for Charlie’s personal growth. It’s heartfelt family humor with a positive message that’s universal.
Tonally, the movie lands somewhere between “Paddington” and a Hallmark holiday special. It’s colorful, cozy, and sprinkled with just enough magical realism to charm kids without tipping into full fantasy. It’s sometimes a little too goofy to appeal to adults, but the message of love, persistence, and community mattering more than any blue ribbon prize is certainly delivered with sincerity.
There’s nothing groundbreaking here, though. The plot is predictable, the villains are one-dimensional, and the life lessons about family, community, and the value of love over material prizes are familiar to the point of cliché. But those flaws almost feel beside the point. The movie doesn’t aspire to be high art, nor does it need to. It wants to be a cozy seasonal story that you can enjoy with a bowl of popcorn on a family movie night, and it fully succeeds in hitting that mark.
Warm, joyous, and cozy, “Grow” is cute, charming, and completely inoffensive. It may prove to be disposable in the long run, but it certainly is delightful in the moment.
