OK where to start? Firstly, I don't like rom coms and secondly I don't like opera.
Yet, I actually did enjoy this movie which begs the question: why?
I've never seen the lead actress before but I did like her. I also liked how a plus size woman had a romantic lead with not one but two men crazy about her.
The actor playing Max I immediately recognized from Mamma Mia II. And he sang in that not terribly well but passable so I actually did wonder if he was singing the opera - but apparently he and the lead actress were both dubbed by professional Australian opera singers. Fair enough. It didn't bother me.
The production values were higher than most of these rom coms so that was impressive. Loved the Scottish setting - those chickens were stars of their own accord.
What I didn't get was Joanna Lumley. Firstly, she's supposed to be this great Diva of Opera and yet we NEVER hear her sing, not once. Hmmm. Secondly, why was she such a bad-tempered and cruel potty mouth? Then she softens halfway through inexplicably. Her character did not work that well for me. And she seemed to have this strange kinda creepy relationship with Max which I never understood.
Loved the bar manager at the Filthy Pig - GREAT name! He injected just the right about of cynical humour that kept this rom com from getting sacchariney and icky.
Also the F bombs were totally unnecessary.
Loved all the actual opera performances which REALLY took me by surprise.
So, yes, it was rather predictable but still interesting enough to keep my attention till the end. And it wasn't schmaltzy at all.
Yet, I actually did enjoy this movie which begs the question: why?
I've never seen the lead actress before but I did like her. I also liked how a plus size woman had a romantic lead with not one but two men crazy about her.
The actor playing Max I immediately recognized from Mamma Mia II. And he sang in that not terribly well but passable so I actually did wonder if he was singing the opera - but apparently he and the lead actress were both dubbed by professional Australian opera singers. Fair enough. It didn't bother me.
The production values were higher than most of these rom coms so that was impressive. Loved the Scottish setting - those chickens were stars of their own accord.
What I didn't get was Joanna Lumley. Firstly, she's supposed to be this great Diva of Opera and yet we NEVER hear her sing, not once. Hmmm. Secondly, why was she such a bad-tempered and cruel potty mouth? Then she softens halfway through inexplicably. Her character did not work that well for me. And she seemed to have this strange kinda creepy relationship with Max which I never understood.
Loved the bar manager at the Filthy Pig - GREAT name! He injected just the right about of cynical humour that kept this rom com from getting sacchariney and icky.
Also the F bombs were totally unnecessary.
Loved all the actual opera performances which REALLY took me by surprise.
So, yes, it was rather predictable but still interesting enough to keep my attention till the end. And it wasn't schmaltzy at all.