Dad's Army (2016)
Director: Oliver Parker
Synopsis
A seductive female journalist (Catherine Zeta Jones) arrives in the picaresque English seaside town of Walmington-on-Sea toward the end of WWII to interview the “highly recommended” members of the local Home Guard platoon for an article in The Lady magazine.
Led by bank manager Mr Mainwaring (Toby Jones), they are flattered as she follows their maneuvers.
All goes well until Mr Mainwarning intercepts what looks like a message from a German spy.
Review by Jason Day
This big-screen remake (resurrection?) of the much-loved British sitcom has attracted some unnecessarily scathing reviews from critics, including The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw who called it a "waste of talent...(a) pointless kind of Brit-comedy ancestor worship".
Harsh words indeed and I suspect they have left their nostalgic self firmly at home when seeing this film.
Don't be put off by my 2/5 star review. Dad's Army is in fact a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining film, with delightful performances/impersonations from a well-chosen British cast, pretty locations (Flamborough and Bridlington in Yorkshire stand in for the actual Kent location of the film) and a smart period production (apart from Catherine Zeta Jones' decidedly modern platform stilettos - perhaps she was going for the Minnie Mouse look?).
The story is believable, neatly extending events and playing with ideas from the original TV series and director Parker makes things whisk along at just the right, doddery pace to match the geriatric cast.
Here on in, it depends on what type of laugh you plump for. I was definitely in the minority as the audience for the screening I attended were giggling furiously, determinedly throughout.
A crowd pleasing film that could only be made in Britain and will make the box office tills ring.
For more, see full review: http://ow.ly/Y1bt5
Listings for this film and all other movies at Cineworld Milton Keynes: http://www.cineworld.co.uk/cinemas/milton-keynes/
Cast & credits
Producer: Damian Jones. Writer: Hamish McColl. Camera: Christopher Ross. Music: Charlie Mole. Sets: Simon Bowle.
Bill Nighy, Catherine Zeta Jones, Toby Jones, Michael Gambon, Tom Courtenay, Mark Gatiss, Blake Harrison, Daniel Mays, Sarah Lancashire, Emily Atack, Ian Lavender, Bill Paterson, Frank Williams, Alison Steadman, Annette Crosbie.
