Limerculer
A waste of 90 minutes of my life
Lollivan
It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
Kirandeep Yoder
The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.
Ortiz
Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.
mt-95256
TL;DRDefines stereotypical demographics; enjoyable for anyone and everyoneSweet, emotional and identifiable storyLots of laughsLovable characters played well by an all-star British cast------------------------------Some films often appeal to a certain demographic; from CGI-heavy blockbusters to teary rom-coms, every film has a specific stereotypical demographic. Finding Your Feet, for example, at first glance perhaps seems like a film aimed towards the conservative over-60s population of the UK. With the occasional ever so slightly racy, Carry On-esque sex jokes, simple but sweet plot, and an all-star cast of familiar British actors who have been delighting us on-screen for many years, it ticks all the boxes that grandparents round the country want a film to tick. However, the biggest surprise this film has in store is how excellent it is regardless of demographic. Quite simply, no matter your interests or demographic, there's no denying the charm of this film and how enjoyable it is.It's a simple story, but an effective one, never dragging in pace and always keeping our interest, all the while giving everyone at least something to identify with on some level. All in all, Finding Your Feet is absolutely a feel-good film. However, that doesn't mean it's all sunshine and rainbows. On the contrary, there are some heart-breaking moments which can tease a tear from most stoic of viewers. Not only do these help us identify even more, but they make the characters feel more real and the highs and laughs seem just that much more enjoyable. And as for laughs there are plenty. You'll definitely find yourself laughing more than crying, with a plethora of comic moments you could find yourself chuckling at even during repeated viewings.All the laughs and feel-good feelings stem as much from the cast as they do from the script though. The only downside is how underused a comedy legend and icon like Joanna Lumley is. Still, like David Hayman also with a smaller part, they make the most of what they have and make an impact on the film, giving it a broader personality and still making you love the characters. Celia Imrie, Timothy Spall and Imelda Staunton are the trio at the heart of the film and all the sweetness emanates from them. With Bif's lust for life, Imrie makes the film inspirational; Spall fortunately breaks his typecasting, this time not being a Pettigrew-esque repulsive character, and instead playing perhaps the sweetest character in the film, almost single-handedly bringing all its emotion with him; and Staunton's development of her character leads the film in a charming way, constantly likable and winning the audience over even before her character begins to change.It may be lost among all the Oscar nominated films dominating cinemas at the moment, but Finding Your Feet is a fresh alternative that can't fail to please. Endlessly charming, an excellent cast brings a sweet, emotional story with plenty of good laughs and a few memorable lines. You'll be hunting for decent croissants in Surrey for years to come.
bob-the-movie-man
There are some films whose trailers really don't properly represent their contents. The trailer for the new 'grey-pound' film "Finding Your Feet" promised a light hearted and witty foray into an elderly dance-club. And, yes, you get some laughs. But it's very much a bitter sweet comedy, and the bitterness is ladled on by the bucketload leading to more tears than smiles through the majority of the running time.Sandra (Imelda Staunton, "Pride") - now Lady Sandra, after her husband's latest knighthood - is in a predictable, sex-free but reasonably happy marriage to legal beagle Mike (John Sessions, "Denial", "Florence Foster Jenkins") when her world is shaken to its core on discovering that Mike has been having a five-year affair with her best friend Pamela (Josie Lawrence). Moving in with her Bohemian sister Bif (Celia Imrie, "Bridget Jones Baby"), she struggles to integrate into her decidedly lower class lifestyle and find common ground with Bif's dance club friends Charlie (Timothy Spall, "Denial", "Mr Turner"), Ted (David Hayman) and Jackie (Joanna Lumley, "The Wolf of Wall Street").Can Sandra turn her downward spiral around and find love and happiness again? Well, the posters scream "The Feel Good Film of the Year" so you don't need to be a rocket scientist to know the answer to that! But it's a bumpy journey for sure. Getting all the acting honours is Timothy Spall, who is far too good to be buried away in this small British rom com. To watch him do "ordinary bloke doing ordinary things" is an absolute delight. He adds class and distinction to every scene he's in, especially for those concerned with his truly tragic and upsetting back-story. Running a close second is Celia Imrie who has a wicked smile off to perfection and adds a lot of emotional depth to her performance: and she needs the range, since she too is on a pretty emotional journey through the second half of the film.John Sessions and Josie Lawrence - old compatriots of course from the original version of TV's "Whose Line Is It Anyway" - also deliver marvellous cameo performances, as does Phoebe Nicholls ("The Elephant Man", "Downton Abbey") as the tennis playing friend Janet. Less convincing for me was Imelda Staunton, particularly in the first half of the film: for me she never quite pulls off the icy cold emotional wreck of Sandra, but is much better once the thaw has set in.The film is written by Meg Leonard (in a debut script) and Nick Moorcroft (who did the "St Trinians" scripts). And there are some funny lines in there, although it has to be said that there are not enough of them. The majority of the best ones in fact are in the trailer, never bettered by Joanna Lumley's zinger.... "My last marriage ended for religious reasons.... he thought he was God and I didn't"! There's not much more room for comic lines, since the rest of the script is stuffed with the dramatic outcomes from various flavours of old-age malady. Fortunately I was one of the younger members of the generally grey-haired audience, but for those further up the scale it must have been like staring into the void!The film will win no awards for choreography, since the dance scenes are gloriously inept and out of sync. But this all rather adds to the charm of the piece. Directed by Richard Loncraine, director of the equally forgettable Brit-flick "Wimbledon" and the rather more memorable "Brimstone and Treacle", this is as Douglas Adams would have said "Mostly Harmless": a film that most over-50's will find a pleasant way to spend two hours. But go in expecting a drama with comic moments, rather than the hilarious comedy predicted by the trailer, and you will be better prepared.(I should comment that the rating below is my view: my illustrious wife declared it a triumphant chick-flick and gave it 9*!).
davidgee
This is the latest British tragi-comedy from the FOUR WEDDINGS school of movie-making. Sandra (Imelda Staunton), the middle-aged wife of a newly knighted police chief in leafy Surrey, discovers he's been cheating on her. She goes to live with her Bohemian sister Bif (Celia Imrie) in a council flat in North London. Bif could not be more different from Sandra: a serial demonstrator, she swims year-roun in Highgate Ponds, drinks too much and smokes pot. She also goes to a dance club for senior citizens. Her best friend Charlie (Timothy Spall) lives on a houseboat in Paddington and daily visits his wife who is in care, so far lost to Alzheimer's that she no longer knows him.Sandra was a dance champion as a child. She reluctantly accompanies her sister to the dance studio and ... You can pretty well guess the rest of the movie. It's extremely predictable and sentimentality is layered on like celebrity tanning oil, but (a big BUT) it's bursting with charm and likeable - lovable - characters. The cast of 'Britpack' stalwarts includes Joanna Lumley and David Hayman. Everybody acts - and dances - effortlessly to win our hearts. And win them they do. There's an episode where the dance group goes to Rome, and - how obvious is this? - Charlie takes Sandra to the Trevi Fountain at night. Totally beguiling!This is very much a 'companion piece to Song for Marion (2012) with grumpy Terence Stamp, ailing Vanessa Redgrave and a singing rather than dancing club for seniors. The matinee audience at my multiplex in Brighton yesterday applauded at the end of FINDING YOUR FEET. Applause was deserved. The feel-good factor dances off the screen. You will feel good!
chrisjhembury
Finding Your Feet ****Finding Your Feet is British Romantic Comedy Drama telling a mature love story of life, starting again and discovering yourself.The story see Lady Abbot a high class socialite who discovers that her Husband of 34 years has been having a on going affair and is forced to stay with her free spirited poor sister.The film delivers on all sides of it's mixed genre format perfectly blending the comedy the romance and a healthy dose of Drama that cements the story and various points is spot on.The rarity of a mature Rom Com being made is totally capitalized on by the amazing array of talent they have in the cast. Everyone involved smashes their lines and relishes the scenes which they most know do not come along that often in the mainstream for their age.Imelda Staunton and Celia Imrie as the sisters work very well together whether they are arguing, bonding or crying there is a chemistry that hits the screen.Timothy Spall as a leading love interest is not something ever associated with the actor and yet fits the part superbly gritty, heart felt, comedic and tender.The first hour shoots bye with a well paced scripted story that delivers not only the laughs but the dramatic moments as well.The care that has gone into the characters is refreshing with almost everyone having a back story, with them all being tragic with works in contrast to the happiness they put out.There's a slight halt in pace at the mid way point which is not long lasting and replaced with tidy third act that delivers a beautiful story that should leave the audience with a smile.A love story that looks at life with a such a over view it begs the question of not just love but the meaning of happiness that only occurs in such overview until older years. To pull off that maturity in the Romantic Comedy genre whilst still hitting all the right beats is a real achievement and a wonderful additional to famous British Rom Com collection.