Set in Newfoundland (even though some of the accents veer towards bad Irish at times), The Grand Seduction, based on the 2003 French/Canadian film La Grande Séduction, sees a small fishing village of lovable, unemployed rogues, led by Murray French (Brendan Gleeson), desperately wooing an oil company looking for a place to build their new 'repurposing' factory. To seal the deal they need a doctor, and when plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Lewis (Taylor Kitsch) is sent to the village, Tickle Head, for a month, in exchange for the dropping of a drug possession charge, where the residents attempt to tailor the small community to his needs, and thus convince him to stay.
The Grand Seduction is a charming farce when you get down to it. The gentle humour is perfectly pitched, providing plenty of chuckles and laughs as the residents of Tickle Head set their plan into the motion, be it quickly learning, but never understanding, the rules of cricket because it is Dr. Lewis' favorite sport, or tapping his phone line to learn more about him. It is a good natured, old fashioned comedy, greatly helped by a cast of likable and amiable characters. When it veers away from the humour, trying to inject some more drama into proceedings, is when the Grand Seduction begins to falter. These plot points are approached haphazardly, as if the movie isn't fully on board with tackling them. For example, Murray's wife leaving the village to get a job of her own is presented as a major event in the movie, but is soon dropped, referenced every now again, but not feeling in anyway important. Throw in a romance between Dr. Lewis and the local post mistress (Liane Balaban) that goes absolutely nowhere, and you are just biding your time to get back to the mad schemes Murray has cooked up. These subplots feel like an intrusion on the main story, and rob it of some of the energy it had built up. It is all a bit predictable as well, but you find the movies charm and characters will make you see passed that.
While he isn't breaking anything close to a sweat, Brendan Gleeson is on great form as Murray. The minute he walks into a scene it is his, and he makes the most of script that is lacking in some places. No one can really keep up with him, especially Taylor Kitsch, who, while likable, seems to be just going threw the motions, getting to where he needs to in the script and not adding much else. The supporting cast, including a scene stealing turn from Gordon Pisnet, are utterly charming and provide plenty of laughs.
A gentle comedy that will definitely have you laughing, The Grand Seduction falters in places, but has enough charm to keep you entertained.
The Grand Seduction is a charming farce when you get down to it. The gentle humour is perfectly pitched, providing plenty of chuckles and laughs as the residents of Tickle Head set their plan into the motion, be it quickly learning, but never understanding, the rules of cricket because it is Dr. Lewis' favorite sport, or tapping his phone line to learn more about him. It is a good natured, old fashioned comedy, greatly helped by a cast of likable and amiable characters. When it veers away from the humour, trying to inject some more drama into proceedings, is when the Grand Seduction begins to falter. These plot points are approached haphazardly, as if the movie isn't fully on board with tackling them. For example, Murray's wife leaving the village to get a job of her own is presented as a major event in the movie, but is soon dropped, referenced every now again, but not feeling in anyway important. Throw in a romance between Dr. Lewis and the local post mistress (Liane Balaban) that goes absolutely nowhere, and you are just biding your time to get back to the mad schemes Murray has cooked up. These subplots feel like an intrusion on the main story, and rob it of some of the energy it had built up. It is all a bit predictable as well, but you find the movies charm and characters will make you see passed that.
While he isn't breaking anything close to a sweat, Brendan Gleeson is on great form as Murray. The minute he walks into a scene it is his, and he makes the most of script that is lacking in some places. No one can really keep up with him, especially Taylor Kitsch, who, while likable, seems to be just going threw the motions, getting to where he needs to in the script and not adding much else. The supporting cast, including a scene stealing turn from Gordon Pisnet, are utterly charming and provide plenty of laughs.
A gentle comedy that will definitely have you laughing, The Grand Seduction falters in places, but has enough charm to keep you entertained.
