This film comes across as an idea that was great in the pub, but that just doesn't work.
Sunshine on Leith tries to deal with some pretty heavy issues -- death, traumatised soldiers returning from war, horrific injuries, family separation, illness and the breakdown of relationships -- but insists that the cast do a 'Proclaimers' song and dance number every 5 minutes.
Unfortunately, the songs feel forced and do not fit with the plot, and aren't good enough to carry the movie by themselves. By the time "500 miles" and "Letter from America" arrive, it's way, way too late.
The director appears to have seen Mamma Mia and tried to copy it, but without any understanding of how or why it worked.
As a "Mike Leigh" style film, not a musical, this might have been OK, but as it is it's just horrible...
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2/10 -- 1 mark for a quite engaging opening scene; nothing else as I found I was actually watching the floor rather than the film towards the end.
Sunshine on Leith tries to deal with some pretty heavy issues -- death, traumatised soldiers returning from war, horrific injuries, family separation, illness and the breakdown of relationships -- but insists that the cast do a 'Proclaimers' song and dance number every 5 minutes.
Unfortunately, the songs feel forced and do not fit with the plot, and aren't good enough to carry the movie by themselves. By the time "500 miles" and "Letter from America" arrive, it's way, way too late.
The director appears to have seen Mamma Mia and tried to copy it, but without any understanding of how or why it worked.
As a "Mike Leigh" style film, not a musical, this might have been OK, but as it is it's just horrible...
--
2/10 -- 1 mark for a quite engaging opening scene; nothing else as I found I was actually watching the floor rather than the film towards the end.