Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Kristin Scott Thomas | ... | Kate | |
Sharon Horgan | ... | Lisa | |
Emma Lowndes | ... | Annie | |
Gaby French | ... | Jess | |
Lara Rossi | ... | Ruby | |
Amy James-Kelly | ... | Sarah | |
India Ria Amarteifio | ... | Frankie (as India Amarteifio) | |
Greg Wise | ... | Richard | |
Jason Flemyng | ... | Crooks | |
Laura Checkley | ... | Maz | |
Laura Elphinstone | ... | Helen | |
Roxy Faridany | ... | Dawn | |
Robbie Gee | ... | Red | |
Stephen Thompson | ... | Stuart | |
Robert Whitelock | ... | Malc |
Inspired by global phenomenon of military wives choirs, the story celebrates a band of misfit women who form a choir on a military base. As unexpected bonds of friendship flourish, music and laughter transform their lives, helping each other to overcome their fears for loved ones in combat. Written by Anon
There have been a lot of movies about Choirs (and even more TV shows), so this picture is a bit short on originality - and not short enough on predictability. But it's as full of the feel-good factor as anything else in this genre and worth seeing for that alone.
Kristin Scott Thomas is pitch-perfect as the posh colonel's wife whose vision of the kind of choir they need is at odds with that of the newly-promoted sergeant-major's missus (Sharon Horgan, also spot-on).
The rehearsals and performance scenes are not as much fun as those in SISTER ACT, and the women aren't as engaging as THE CALENDAR GIRLS were, but the director, Peter Cattaneo, who gave us THE FULL MONTY in 1997, brings the same full-heartedness to this belated follow-up. Predictable or not, the widowing of one of the women is very movingly presented, and the finale in the Albert Hall should bring a tear to the flintiest eye. It brought one to mine.