Billed as an old fashioned comedy that all the family can enjoy, this film hits the old fashioned spot. Director Talulah Riley also stars as Beth, an English conservationist leading a project to protect Highland wildlife. And particularly the freshwater mussel which is being targeted by pearl pirates (yes, really....). Attracted by the possibility of easy money, Govan ned Ritchie (Martin Compston) inveigles his way on to the project team so that his colleagues in crime can get the information they need to carry out their search for pearls. But when (surprise, surprise) he falls in love with Beth there's the possibility that he may see the error of his ways.
You can fill in the gaps for yourself. Because there is very little in the storyline that isn't entirely predictable. Real old fashioned films, Ealing comedies for instance, remedied this by overdosing on charm and a lot of laughs, something this script seems to have omitted. A skinny man in a bright pink wetsuit really isn't much to laugh about in 2015. Compston does his best with what he's given, but it could never be enough. At least there are some stunning views of the Scottish countryside to please the eye.
There are cameo appearances from some familiar faces, the most notable, for all the wrong reasons, being Harry Enfield's cringe-worthy attempt at some form of Scottish accent. I'm guessing he thinks Brigadoon is a documentary.
Old fashioned? Yes. Comedy? Not so you would know. Some families might it enjoy it if they are after an undemanding bit of fun, but for me it was a huge disappointment.
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