Fishermen’s Friends — A Review.

19th February, 2020.

Right … 

You’ve possibly watch that introduction video … haven’t you?

Basically?

I confess to not knowing my own mind.

Not knowing if I’d want to settle down in front of the TV … with a film or a TV show.

Granted: there’s a few of each I wanted to check out.

Being in the mood I’m in … ?

I fancied a movie.

And, to be perfectly frank?

I fancied a feel-good movie.

And … ?

In deciding on the Chris Foggin directed Fishermen’s Friends, I think I picked a good one …

~≈†≈~

Based on the true life story of the Cornish folk band, Fishermen’s Friends shows four hard bitten music executives — Troy, Henry, Driss and Danny (Noel Clarke, Christian Brassington, Vahid Gold and Daniel Mays) — heading for Cornwall on a stag do.

And being left in the proverbial lurch: when the yacht they were supposed to have hired … ends up being heavily repaired in North Wales.

And end up getting left in the lurch in the small Cornish village of Port Isaac.

It’s only when the four are stranded on one of the area’s more obscure harbours — and need to get rescued by the local lifeboat crew — that Danny starts have his doubts about the hole weekend.

And only after they see a group of local fishermen singing on the beach?

That Troy decides to lumber the over worked Danny with a mission.

Hire that band.

Danny doesn’t realise quite how much of a job it is.

Especially as Jim (James Purefoy), the band’s leader?

Really does have a hard time with outsiders … 

~≈†≈~

Now … 

In the mood for a feel good film?

Yes: yes indeed.

I’m job-hunting, at the mo: so keeping entertained helps.

Feel good film — in particular — can be quite good.

Have I found one?   Does Fishermen’s Friends fit the bill?

Absolutely.

I know the UK’s film industry has been going for quite some time, and — by now — learnt what it’s doing.

That shows, with Fishermen’s Friends.

It’s got — quite literally — the lot.

Cute kids, a love story between the lovelorn young woman — Alwyn (Tuppence Middleton) — and the fish out of water protagonist, Danny, a craggy antagonist — Jim — with a heart of gold, fantastic  dialogue … 

What can I tell you?

There’s at least one thing I can say.

There are times I think Daniel Mays has been badly cast: ever since I saw him in Outcasts, many years ago.

He was … sort of ok in Outcasts.   Mind you … the rest of the cast were … sort of ok in Outcasts.   Outcasts, the series?   Was … well … there’s been better …

Dad’s Army?   He was better.

Good Omens?   Great!

Frankly, Fishermen’s Friends sees him cast, and performing, well.

Equally as frankly?

Fishermen’s Friends may not be an Oscar winner.

But is a very good, watchable … and uplifting film.

Fishermen’s Friends*

★★★☆

*        As a final piece of trivia?   The film’s title cards — the opening titles and end credits — are in a version of the Albertus typeface† I’d last seen in The Prisoner.   So you know.

†        If I’ve understood it correctly?   A typeface — Albertus, Gill Sans, Times New Roman — is a family of lettering styles.   I’m writing this piece in Georgia, to give you another example.   On the other hand?   A font is an individual member of a typeface family: 10 point Gill San regular, 12 point Times New Roman Italic, what have you.