Review by George Kozera for Mr. Will Wong
When it comes to movies, there is one thing that the Brits excel at that North American films don’t embrace enough. Characters and story lines that feature a certain demographic – people over the age of 50 in lead roles. Their stories can be funny and uplifting and inspirational. Featuring an array of some of the most talented and respected actors from the U.K., FINDING YOUR FEET is a wonderful example of this.
We first meet Lady Sandra (Oscar nominated Imelda Staunton) at her palatial estate where she and her hoity-toity guests are celebrating the retirement of her husband. When she goes to their wine cellar to replace some bottles, Sandra finds her husband of 35 years and her best friend in a hot and fervid embrace, only to find out that they have been involved in a secret affair for over five years. Enraged, she creates a loud scene in front of her guests and hightails it out to stay with her estranged sister, Bif, in London.
As self-absorbed as Sandra is (she under tips a cab driver and worries that she would lose of title of Lady should she divorce), Bif is a free-spirited Bohemian. As exquisitely portrayed by Celia Imrie (the “Exotic Marigold Hotel” movies), she exudes Mother Earthiness. Sandra shuns anyone in Bif’s circle of friends, which includes handyman Charlie (Timothy Spall). After seeing an old home movie of herself as a young girl dancing in competition, Sandra joins Bif at her community centre dance class, where seniors (including the glorious wonder that Joanna Lumley is!) meet and boogie. Forced to partner with Charlie, Sandra slowly starts to mellow. When the dance troupe gain notoriety by performing a mash-up, flash mob routine in Piccadilly Circus to bring awareness of a charity, they become viral and are invited to Rome (the eternal city of love) to perform their bit.
There is a lot to admire about FINDING YOUR FEET. Its rom-com roots are expertly handled by the seasoned veterans of stage, screen and TV. Matters that affect many of a certain age are delicately and humorously portrayed, whether it be death, sex and, especially, reinventing oneself. It is beautifully shot, with glorious scenes of London and Rome. I also loved the dance sequences. My quibbles with the Movie are few. Firstly, at almost two hours, the length is unyielding for this type of story. Whereas the characterizations of Sandra’s husband and the country estate moneyed crowd is cliché-ridden, it wasn’t as off-putting as the “Ali MacGraw” moment when a character experiences some unknown malady.
Yes, FINDING YOUR FEET is predictable as we see how the Movie will end, but the ride from point A to point B is charming and entertaining.
eOne Films release FINDING YOUR FEET Friday, April 13, 2018 in select cities.
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