Military Wives (2019) User Reviews

Moving story of love and friendship.

[jasongkgreen · 7/10 · 11 February 2020]

Sharon and Kirsten are superb. It's a moving story of friendship under pressure of military life, war and pain, with a lovely musical backing track.

Funny, witty, poignant and for me very emotional.

I definitely would 👌👍

Admittedly this was more interesting than just another war movie.

[GiraffeDoor · 7/10 · 28 September 2020]

This is exactly what you think it's going to be.

It's a cutesy comedy with a poignant core. A story of people with a problem in common coming together through music.

That is basically it.

It has that well timed giggle comedy that your friend loves to point out as it's happening and you always know when you're supposed to feel moved because the string section tells you.

It is agreeable to watch two strong willed people try to make a viable choir from amateurs and the techniques of the by-the-book choir mistress contrast with the free wheeling methods of the other one.

It's funny to watch them manufacture conflict toward the end so we can have a climax of sorts but no one can say a professional job wasn't done here.

My dad picked this out for us to watch with my Mother in mind because she is the limiting factor for our movie nights. Was laughing and wiping her eyes so this defo ticks the box for your more...traditional family members and I can't say I disliked it either.

Having said that: there were a few things about this movie I thought were perverse. I don't mind the flag waving because they did it gently but is it really true that the army spouses get responsibilities according to who they're married to? Kind of nepotistic. And until right before the end it seems to give the impression that there are no chicks in the army. Why is it so male dominated? I guess that's the heteropatriachy thing...

Also: everyone has the luxury of being against any war.

Uplifting and emotional.

[rustonreviews · 7/10 · 23 February 2020]

Inspired by the real life Military Wives Choirs network (consisting of 75 choirs throughout the UK and overseas), Military Wives follows a group of women who're left behind on the home front while their partners serve in Afghanistan. Using the catharsis of music to help them cope with the absence of their partners, they found the very first military wives choir. Managed by Kate (Thomas) and Lisa (Horgan), two women who possess extremely conflicting personalities and objectives, the choir steadily acquires widespread media attention that will result in the formation of an influential movement. Cattaneo's film focuses on the kinship shared between these women, each of whom have their own burdens to bear in the face of such uncertain adversity. Much of the films strength comes from the sincerity of the performances, particularly leads Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan, who clash repeatedly throughout the film. Tunnard and Flynn's screenplay strikes a perfect balance in tone, too. It accomplishes a combination of both humour and tragedy (which is perhaps one of the most difficult dichotomies to nail in screenwriting) in a way that never feels superficial, and although it is clear to see the echoes of where it is all going to go, it's difficult not to become invested in the journey. Military Wives is a heartfelt film that is both uplifting and emotional, with standout performances and a truly brilliant final song that brings the whole piece together wonderfully.

Not perfect but still worth watching

[iamkeysersoze-13228 · 11 February 2020]

Military Wives is as formulaic as movies go, regardless the film is surprisingly good and it uses the formula really well. However it never aspires to be anything else preventing it from becoming a classic amongst the genre.

I haven't been familiar with the true story but from the start, you just know where it is all gonna go. It still works well but nothing is a surprise because of that. It still has some great moments and a fair amount of heart

It is seriously enjoyable and it is a likeable movie with a great cast. Kristen Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan are great here. I'm sure there are many people who will like this film. I just can't see that much greatness in it. It's formulaic and does it's best to be a lovely and charming film but it does it in such a manipulative way, and I hate it when films do that. It is still worth watching though

Ok film but a bit formulaic

[admanpa-81096 · 6/10 · 28 March 2020]

This is ok. More like a tv drama. Very formulaic and characters are a bit one dimensional. So a bit disappointing but quite entertaining.

I gave it a very weak 6

[fallyhag · 6/10 · 27 March 2020]

We all know the story. This should have been amazing. But it was very weak. It failed to find the real magic. It cut out Gareth. It didn't use the music. Instead it went for awful beret wearing, saluting with the wrong arm and cringing stereotypes.

I was annoyingly disappointed with this. A tiny bit of humour but that was it. I felt nothing. And the climax was woeful.

Watch it on a damp Sunday (or pandemic) but don't expect too much. Sorry.

Sister Act without the wimples

[davidgee · 7/10 · 11 March 2020]

There have been a lot of movies about Choirs (and even more TV shows), so this picture is a bit short on originality - and not short enough on predictability. But it's as full of the feel-good factor as anything else in this genre and worth seeing for that alone.

Kristin Scott Thomas is pitch-perfect as the posh colonel's wife whose vision of the kind of choir they need is at odds with that of the newly-promoted sergeant-major's missus (Sharon Horgan, also spot-on).

The rehearsals and performance scenes are not as much fun as those in SISTER ACT, and the women aren't as engaging as THE CALENDAR GIRLS were, but the director, Peter Cattaneo, who gave us THE FULL MONTY in 1997, brings the same full-heartedness to this belated follow-up. Predictable or not, the widowing of one of the women is very movingly presented, and the finale in the Albert Hall should bring a tear to the flintiest eye. It brought one to mine.

Film Review: Military Wives/www.nightfilmreviews.com

[lucasnochez · 7/10 · 27 February 2020]

In this massive world of cinema, whether you're a cinephile or not, it's a guarantee that at one point or another, you've all watched a war film. Some better than others, but for the most part, the subject matter of war has always been one of great distain and scruple seriousness. Luckily, this year at TIFF, aside from the high-profile and hopeful Oscar contender Jojo Rabbit, another hidden TIFF entry to the light-hearted war cannon is Military Wives. Since the war on terror, any film that would dare touch upon light-hearted and comedic subject matters pertaining to such a heart-felt and heavy area, seems almost unheard of a decade ago. But here we are today, almost desensitized to violence, war and the chaos that ensues within the war film genre, and while so many of the incredible war films to have come out, directly dealing with issues of shell-shock and PTSD, Military Wives dares to shift the focus of the war film genre to a subject matter that is still heart wrenching yet much cozier and warmer to the touch, which is expected from the director of The Full Monty.

Director Peter Cattaneo decides to rebalance the atrocities of war and deliver a crowd-pleasing, light-hearted venture into the fray of a very serious yet unanswered question; what exactly happens to the lives of these wives, who allow their husbands, spouses and partners to enter the ferocity of war?

Military Wives centres on a group of women who's partners have all been deployed into Afghanistan, and the inner and daily routines of these women who, whenever whenever a phone rings or the bells on their front doors chime, are on constant pins and needles. Housed together in a communal military base, Cattaneo focuses on exactly what a group of women would do, if there was nothing else to do but wait, hope and pray.

Based loosely on real events from around the world, almost as a collective research project, the film follows two women, Kate (Kristin Scott Thomas) and Lisa (Sharon Horgan), embodying so many services wives worldwide. Cattaneo's two lead female protagonists are polar opposites; one a very strict and experienced war wife; the other a more free-spirited and emotional wife and mother. While both Kate and Lisa, as expected, start off at opposite ends of their ideals and ideologies, as expected, they begin to slowly find themselves meeting in the middle. Stricken with the responsibility of entertaining the remaining wives on the base, due to their husbands high ranks, the two begin brainstorming ideas of bringing the women together, and settle upon a choir.

Calculated and old-school with her approach to classical teaching of music, Kate begins training the women the best and only way she knows how; by learning music and musical notes. Whereas Lisa, a more impulsive and emotional musical student, begins easing the women into the choir idea by means of karaoke, singing songs and using references to The Beatles, Spice Girls and other 80's icons. Both women, stricken with heavy emotional burdens throughout the film, begin reconnecting a fragile group of women who, at any moment, may hear of their husbands demise on the battlefield.

As unlikely a duo as Batman and Porky Pig, Thomas and Horgan give the film its real heart and provide some lovely scenes of female bonding, sisterhood and adoration, that comes very rarely in festival films. While the film would have trouble during the light-hearted summer season, jam packed with Marvel fare and superhero films abound, and yet, not really much of a early year release thanks to the high-caliber content and acting, Military Wives is a proper festival film that will surely find its audience on limited release among speciality theatres, around the world.

While the ending of the film is far from a mystery, the process towards getting there is a real treat. Filled with amazingly loveable and endearing secondary characters, including Jason Flemyng, who plays the wives on-base authoritarian figure, Lara Rossi, the only gay wife in the film who cannot hit a single musical note if her life depended on it, as well as the groups shining star and lead vocalist, Military Wives is a Sunday type of film that is sure to put a huge smile on your face, the night before a long week ahead.

A true underdog story for the masses, overall Military Wives is a feel good film with a more intelligent sense of humour and emotional depth than most sentimental comedies today, especially all the litter Netflix is producing, on what seems to be the daily. Military Wives is a film with a lot of personality, love and heart, and during a festival season, its exactly whats needed.

Amazing and Moving

[katie_miller-57992 · 10/10 · 4 March 2020]

As a military wife and one who is in the military wives choir I was unsure of how they would actually manage to portray our thoughts feelings etc in to film when they have no idea what our lives are like and I was amazed at how well these cast managed to get our lifestyle on screen! The choir that is formed is exactly like most choirs with such a range of people but that is the whole point.

I laughed, I cried, I sang and I would 100% see this countless times again

An irrefutable crowd-pleaser

[akcenat · 7/10 · 10 April 2020]

The predictable story of "Military Wives" is part of the film's charm and it's inspired by a true story of group of (British) soldier's partners who form a choir to help take their minds off worrying for their loved ones serving in Afghanistan. The movie itself manages to entertain and this is properly down to the creative team which included a strong cast like elegant Kristin Scott Thomas that return to low budget crowd pleasing material such as this and Sharon Horgan who is highly regarded for her (British) TV work, but also the "The Full Monty" (1997) director Peter Cattaneo and co-writter indie filmmaker Rachel Tunnard. What they created is a film that was humorous and emotional at the right points. At the same time, "Military Wives" doesn't do anything unique or innovative, it stays very much within the boundaries of the British feel-good drama-comedy tradition, but I don't see much wrong with that to be honest. There are sufficient laughs, obligatory tears and a pleasing splash of diversity that we haven't always seen in military skewed British films. Overall, "Military Wives" is not top tier of British comedy dramas, but it is a safe and predictable film that will easily please the intended audience, being elevated by the character work and humor. Maybe I was in exactly the right mood at the right time, but it all pretty much worked for me. Rating: 7+

It felt like 1819 rather then 2019

[Vanillaalmond · 4/10 · 8 June 2020]

Perhaps it is the concept of it all rather then the movie itself, a whole group of women ,that seem to have nothing much to do except worry about their men and wait for them, find ways to make time pass. I just could not grasp how old fashioned it all seemed. Do none of these women have jobs and interests and a life outside of their husbands work? Do the armed forces still work like this around the world, men working and women sitting at home knitting and singing...I guess the movie is cute but so outdated somehow.

Sing Out! This will be a monster UK hit.

[bob-the-movie-man · 8/10 · 24 February 2020]

I must admit that I was a bit of a drag-along to this one. The trailer excited me not.... one.... bit. Sentimental film. Dull story. Wrong demographic. No, no, no. But... in this case I am very happy to be proved wrong, wrong, wrong.

True that I didn't sit in the ideal demographic for this movie. 90% of the audience at the UK premiere showing I attended last night were female and older that me. This is a movie to turn the blue-rinse crowd out in DROVES! Because the - inherently British - story is engaging and rewarding from start to finish.

Loosely based on the true story, it's 2010 and a regiment of husbands (and at least one wife.... nice to see an all female marriage featured) are dispatched from the fictional "Flitcroft Barracks" to Afghanistan on a tour of duty. Thereafter every ring at the door by a friend spells mild panic ; every thoughtless call from an accident-chaser induces hypertension.

Trying to take their minds off their loved ones, Colonel's wife Kate (Kristin Scott Thomas) muscles in on the insipid entertainment plans of Lisa (Sharon Horgan) in organising a singing group. Lisa thinks "girls just wanna have fun"; Kate thinks they should be training as a proper choir. Sparks fly.

But against all the odds, the women progressively improve until they get the chance to present their talents to an unaware nation.

My wife summed up in one word why this movie is so good...... "balance". The movie covers topics of fear, grief, social conflict, family conflict and uplifting joy. One step off the tightrope could have spelled disaster. But director Peter Cattaneo, of "Full Monty" fame, through the expert script of Roseanne Flynn and Rachel Tunnard, walks that line with perfect balance. It never feels overly melodramatic; never feels a light piece of superficial fluff either.

And when "the performance" happens, you will be hard pushed not to need a tissue or two..... I certainly succumbed to the emotion of the moment.

At the core of the story are the perfectly cast duo of Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan. With just a handful of introductory lines, you quickly get the measure of Kate's character, without ever knowing the story behind the icy and brittle facade. The conflict between her and the fun-loving egalitarian Lisa is writ large. What's nice here is that you are never totally sure who's side of the argument you are on. It is easy to side with Lisa at the start of the film, but as you learn more and particularly after a particularly careless act by Lisa towards the end of the film, your sympathies change.

The rest of the excellent ensemble cast also work naturally together, with Emma Lowndes as Annie and Amy James-Kelly as the newly married Sarah being particularly impressive.This feels like a group of actors who were brought together to film a story and bonded as friends in the process. You end up caring a great deal for what happens to them

Although the script is based on the true story of the military wives it diverges significantly from what actually happens in the interests of an engaging story. Choirmaster Gareth Malone was, of course, actively involved in the true story as a part of a TV programme, but none of that is referenced in the movie. But that doesn't remotely impinge on your enjoyment of the movie for one second.

In particular, a sub-story about the long-term effects of grief is particularly well handled, with 'Dave' turning from being a passive to an active participant in the story at a key moment.

It's that depressing time of the year when everyone is fed up of rain, wind and dripping noses. It's a time of year when you look for some uplifting entertainment.... people surely watch "Death in Paradise" for the sun rather than the stories? Ladies - and the odd gentleman - I give you "Military Wives". It's not bloody Shakespeare. But if this doesn't make you feel uplifted and better about the world, then I will dutifully kiss the regimental goat.

(For the full graphical review, please check out One Mann's Movies on the web and Facebook. Thanks).

Director doesn't know his left from his right.

[alanrowley-47513 · 6/10 · 24 August 2021]

This story lost all credibility for me when Crooks saluted the Brigadier using his left hand! What an incredible stuff-up, and apparently not one of the dozens and dozens of people involved noticed it. As an ex-squaddie, I certainly did.

You've seen this so many times before.

[TheColonel1947 · 2/10 · 28 February 2020]

I hate to be down on a movie which essentially has a good heart but it is just awful. The plot and script are tired and hackneyed and the direction lacking in any spark whatsoever. The characters are cardboard cutouts and beyond the efforts of the cast to inject any life into them. All very predictable. Wait until it's on tv and save it for a rainy Sunday afternoon.

I liked it a lot!

[annielovely65 · 7/10 · 21 October 2020]

I hadn't heard of this movie until I stumbled upon it online, but I thought it was very good! Uplifting to my spirit and I loved the camaraderie of the wives which, I'm sure, was very true to life.

Touching film

[seanto · 7/10 · 5 January 2021]

Touching film about the lives of Military Wives and their journey of starting a choir to singing at the Royal Albert Hall. Found myself fully invested in the journey the woman where on and was excited to see the hard work come together towards the end of the film. Full of both sad and funny moments that showed some of the meany sides of being Military Wife. Would watch again.

Could have been a great film, failed on attention to detail

[comps-784-38265 · 7/10 · 9 July 2021]

This had everything going for it, concept, actors and a good story.

Badly let down by relatively minor details and poor delivery.

One jarring thing I found was a lack of attention to detail. A British captain saluting without a hat on (we don't do that) saluting American style (not Britsh salute) saluting with the wrong hand etc etc. All minor points. But if you can't get minor points right then you won't get the main story across.

Particularly jarring was using technology for the singing and very obviously. Could they not have made a cast of accomplished singers ?

Military accomodation was on the button (from my experience)

The dedication of the military and their families 'to the job' was missing. As was quite a rigid hierarchy/class structure.

Bumbling military stereo types and 'pork pie' berets were annoying.

If they had gone with a 'real' documentary style film it would have been a classic. Instead it was some weird military themed version of sister act meets calendar girls.

Missed the mark totally about real people , real families, real feelings.

Instead turned them into cardboard cutouts, 'Hollywood' impressions of the military and their families.

Very dissappointed - it was ok, watch once.

It could have been so much better and could have been a classic instead another addition to the huge and growing stack of mediocre films.

British Military wives keep busy while partners are deployed.

[TxMike · 17 August 2020]

This story and movie is inspired by real events although this particular one is a work of fiction. Set among the military residences at a British base the husbands are being deployed to Afghanistan. From experience the older wives know it will be a tense wait for them to come back, and not all of them will return. So they organize activities designed to keep them distracted and happy.

Several activities are batted around but the big one turns out to be forming a choir, something none of them really had any experience with. Yet they manage and sound good enough to be invited for a special military event in London.

There are the expected personality clashes and squabbles but in the end they all pull together. My wife and I watched this at home on the Kanopy site via Roku. Good, interesting movie that mostly feels realistic.

Predictable feel-good film with great performances from Kristin and Sharon

[cauwboy · 6/10 · 4 September 2020]

To begin with I'm a 31 years old man so usually not the target audience for this film - but then again, no matter what film, if it's good, it should attract any age or any gender and there were actually times when this film started to tug at my heart.

The film had a slow start with all wives sending off their men for the war and then their daily activities of... doing nothing, really. As far as I could tell, it was only Sharon Horgan's character that worked at the local shop in the small town they lived in. Everybody else either was at home, playing with their kids or going to the wives activities at the military building. I was probably not focused enough at the beginning of the film, since there was talk about the Falklands on the TV but soon I noticed that there were lots of cellphones and laptops and I had to figure out what time it was really set in. Because seeing so many women not working or just being housewives would probably have made more sense the earlier in time the film would've been set.

The story is quite typical too, Kristin Scott Thomas playing the high-class wife trying to start some serious activities for the wives to focus their minds on so they don't have to just sit at home and worry about their husbands at the war in Afghanistan, and then Sharon Horgan's character that's more relaxed and takes every day as they come. There are some bumpy roads between the two of them, but during the middle of the film, they actually get along together and the highlight of the film must without a doubt be the tunnel scene, it actually made me feel warm and I actually could see myself give the film a high rating from that point.

But then came the end of the second act where they suddenly added a forced argument between the two leads and then they had bad times for 10 minutes before they ended up becoming best friends again. I know it's considered spoilers, but it's so badly done and over so quickly that it doesn't even matter. Kristin's character could've easily have gotten her breakdown at anytime of the film without the arguement, and Sharon's character didn't have to suddenly switch character when she pushed her choir members - it all felt so forced and stupid and it's what made me lower the score.

Also, there was a missed opportunity with the big song they performed to show the men they sang for, or focusing the camera on the person which text they had used, making it more personal, but to me it was just a mix of everything and mostly Kristin and her husband being emotional. There were also parts with the character Dawn that didn't sing, more like miming, that I thought would have her own little development. Same with Ruby with her deep voice - sure, they told her that she was an alto, but then didn't do much more about it.

What saves the film is the performances from Kristin and Sharon, they had a great chemistry together and I really cheered for both of them the whole film through. The other ladies were also fun as well with their own kinds of personalities, even if some could've gotten some more screen time. Also a lot of fun seeing Jason Flemyng in such a sweet, cuddly role as he played, the bumbly military guy being there for the ladies - not the usual role I'm used to seeing him as, but I'm happy that he did.

You know what you're getting with this film and if you're fine with that, then just enjoy the film.

A gentle hug of a film

[hullmaninlondon · 8/10 · 6 March 2020]

It's a lovely little British film. Beautifully acted, you feel like know the characters because they are some relatable. It's subtle British humour, with a tinge of dark humour. You will cry though so be warned...

Predictable

[patriciaedwards-11373 · 6/10 · 28 November 2020]

The movie was watchable but very predictable and full of crass stereotypes. Couldn't even get the salutes correct (wrong hand). I am pretty sick of these movies with set pieces, stock characters etc., That said, it's not the worst I've seen but predictably disappointing.

Emotional but 30 minutes too long and just too obvious

[coombsstephen · 5/10 · 12 March 2020]

There are good parts to this film and the story is definitely one worth telling but it sadly doesn't quite hit the mark. However I did feel it maybe wasn't aimed at men, which may be the reason it wasn't for me.

I felt it was just a bit dragged out as the story lacked some depth despite the subject matter and would have been a better film has it been a bit shorter. I felt myself thinking "come on, get on with it" a few times in the film.

Also the film lacked much of a twist, there were a few but none were exactly major shocks and everything that happened was virtually telegraphed.

It's worth a watch but don't have high hopes

Utterly brilliant

[daveheez · 10/10 · 8 September 2019]

Attended the world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Friday. Honestly one of top 10 best films I've ever seen. Perfect mix of pathos (not sure I've ever cried more in a film 😳), laugh out loud humour and great music.

Entertaining and enjoyable feel-good movie

[rubenm · 7/10 · 20 December 2020]

It's a classic from the screenwriting school: two incompatible characters embark on a difficult project, and learn to appreciate each other while doing so. In the end, they succeed against all odds.

'Military Wives' (or 'The Singing Club' as it's called in some countries) is a very formulaic film: the plot development is very predictable, and there are no surprises whatsoever. Nevertheless, this is an entertaining and enjoyable movie, because it is made so well. It shows how a group of military wives start a singing club (the word 'choir' would make it too official) and get invited to perform during a live television show. The incompatible characters are the two leaders of the club, the stiff-upper-lipped Kate who wants to do everything by the rules, and the easygoing Lisa who focuses on the fun factor. Kate likes Mozart, Lisa likes The Beatles - that sums it up. The difficult project is to get their club ready for the performance.

Both leads are great. Kristin Scott Thomas is the perfect actress for Kate's part, but Sharon Horgan is just as good playing Lisa. The film is perfectly balanced between a laugh and a tear. It doesn't shy away from serious themes (the wives have to cope with several tragedies), but it's never melodramatic. This is a crowd-pleaser in the positive sense of the word.

Oh whatever shall us women do whilst our men are away?

[MBlenks91 · 4/10 · 16 February 2021]

We have no hobbies and interests of our own!

We must find something to do whilst we wait for our boys to come home!

Urgh.

Giving 4 stars for Kristin Scott Thomas.