Rosamund Pike and David Tennant Road Trip in ‘What We Did on Our Holiday’

Sandra Miska

Rosamund Pike is gone again, gone on vacation, that is, in the upcoming British comedy “What We Did on Our Holiday.”  Pike and her onscreen family will be hitting the road July 10.

“What We Did on Our Holiday” stars David Tennant and Pike as an estranged husband and wife, Doug and Abi McLeod, who travel to the Scottish Highlands after a tense separation.  The purpose of their journey is to celebrate the 75th birthday of Doug’s terminally ill father Gordie (Billy Connolly) who is to have a lavish party arranged by Doug’s millionaire financial trader brother Gavin (Ben Miller).  Doug and Abi must pretend to be a loving couple in order to avoid upsetting Gordie at the end of his life.

Joining Doug and Abi are their three children anxious Lottie (Emilia Jones), energetic Mickey (Bobby Smalldridge) and baby Jess (Harriet Turnbull).  Because Doug’s affair is the reason for his and Abi’s separation, the family must relearn to trust him.

Tensions also flare between Doug and Gavin, a conceited social climber.  Despite living in a big mansion and having more money than they know what to do with, Gavin’s family is also far from perfect.  His wife Margaret (Amelia Bullmore) has recently suffered a breakdown in a supermarket.  Security cameras captured the meltdown, making her a reluctant YouTube star.

“What We Did on Our Holiday” was inspired by “Outnumbered,” a BBC sitcom that was created by the film’s directors, Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin.  For those unfamiliar with British telly, “Outnumbered” is also about a family with three precocious children and two overwhelmed parents.

In a recent interview with an Australian publication, Pike explained the differences between acting in “Gone Girl” and “What We Did on Our Holiday.”

“The experiences of these two films couldn’t have been further from each other, but that is mainly to do with the directors.  [Andy and Guy] What We Did on Our Holiday is so instinctive and they go with actors’ first instincts and they use a lot of improvisation.  David Fincher never goes with actors’ first instincts, never uses improvisation and will craft and re-craft and carefully dissect a scene over a period of many, many hours”

“What We Did on Our Holiday ”opens in select theaters July 10.