I enjoyed 23 Walks, perhaps because I'm now of the age of the lead characters who discover love against the odds. I became an admirer of Dave Johns in I, Daniel Blake, and in this film, in my opinion, he comes up trumps again, playing everyman to perfection. This is a slice of the lives of two ordinary people, dealing with ordinary situations in a natural, human way. I for one am glad that such films are being made.
28 Reviews
Sweet film
thejdrage4 March 2022
This is a sweet film. Lots of snarky family telling older people what to do and how to do it. The dogs made the film!! Of course. Don't they always? Good scenery!
The concept of counting walks with the dogs to meander along with this couple was a sweet way to segue from one day to another.
The concept of counting walks with the dogs to meander along with this couple was a sweet way to segue from one day to another.
Lovely Film
sbrookes-158086 October 2022
I really enjoyed this, apart from a few minutes in the beginning. I had a feeling it was going to show one walk after another. However, after showing a couple of walks it settled into more, and quickly became an easy to watch film. A few occasions I felt a little annoyed at the characters and wished they had behaved differently, this though could be said in real life,people do not behave in the way we wish all the time, and with that said, the writing of the story must have been pretty decent to make the characters believable.
I would say, though, that I would hazard a guess that this film would be lost on, let's say, under 50 year olds, due to a few of the situations. All in all though, for me, a well spent hour and a half of so.
I would say, though, that I would hazard a guess that this film would be lost on, let's say, under 50 year olds, due to a few of the situations. All in all though, for me, a well spent hour and a half of so.
Slow Yet Moving
Moviegoer1929 January 2023
I have mixed feelings about 23 Walks. As I am about the same age that the two protagonists are, I related to several of their "issues" which was what kept me interested. At the same time this is a pure "relationship film" in which what happens is related to feelings and interactions with others, in addition to the aging process. It's also about relationships with and between dogs. I stayed with it but at times considered turning it off. The acting was quite good and one of the best features of the film was the camera shots of woods, meadows, and seasons changing. Likewise the sounds of birds and other aspects of nature were wonderful. If you want to watch a calm yet emotional film, and/or are a dog lover, this could be it.
Very watchable
emms759 May 2023
This is a nice little story, very watchable. It's not a masterpiece by any stretch, but I found it enjoyable, heartwarming in places.
Not sure about the main characters, particularly their reactions to certain events. I haven't decided yet whether this is due to poor acting or poor script! Having seen 'Our Souls at Night' a few years back (which I loved) I couldn't help but compare and this definitely wasn't a patch on Our Souls.
It's also listed as a comedy...I didn't really find it funny...nevertheless worth a watch for some light entertainment with a feel good factor thrown in.
PS best actors were the canines.
Not sure about the main characters, particularly their reactions to certain events. I haven't decided yet whether this is due to poor acting or poor script! Having seen 'Our Souls at Night' a few years back (which I loved) I couldn't help but compare and this definitely wasn't a patch on Our Souls.
It's also listed as a comedy...I didn't really find it funny...nevertheless worth a watch for some light entertainment with a feel good factor thrown in.
PS best actors were the canines.
Well, I supppose the scenery was nice...
Desrio23 September 2021
Undaunted by the rather lacklustre rating that 23 Walks had received on IMDB, I approached the film with an open mind. A film with Alison Steadman and Dave Johns in the central roles, set against a backdrop of London's beautiful Hampstead Heath, and telling the tale of a late-flowering romance would be, at the very least, a painless way to pass an hour and three quarters.
Sadly, I was disappointed. The film never really seemed to come together. Steadman and Johns worked with an underwhelming script and never exhibited as actors the chemistry that their characters were supposed to be experiencing - I found myself wondering more than once just what it was that Fern (Steadman) and Dave (Johns) saw in each other .
A good director should always strive to bring out the best in the cast but all too often I found that the finished product felt like a recording of a rehearsal, with the leads struggling to find the correct timing or natural rhythm in their often unnatural sounding dialogue.
The storyline swung back and forth in a manner too restless for a movie of this nature rendering it an unconvincing battle against the odds, rather than a gentle rom-com.
I have given 23 Walks six points when in fact, it only merits five and a half.
Sadly, I was disappointed. The film never really seemed to come together. Steadman and Johns worked with an underwhelming script and never exhibited as actors the chemistry that their characters were supposed to be experiencing - I found myself wondering more than once just what it was that Fern (Steadman) and Dave (Johns) saw in each other .
A good director should always strive to bring out the best in the cast but all too often I found that the finished product felt like a recording of a rehearsal, with the leads struggling to find the correct timing or natural rhythm in their often unnatural sounding dialogue.
The storyline swung back and forth in a manner too restless for a movie of this nature rendering it an unconvincing battle against the odds, rather than a gentle rom-com.
I have given 23 Walks six points when in fact, it only merits five and a half.
Sweet FiIm About Seniors - 23 Walks
arthur_tafero8 November 2022
Coming of age films come in various categories. It is not just Stand By Me becoming a teenager, or graduating from high school as in American Grafitti, or becoming an adult as in The Graduate and Young Adult, with Charlize Theron. No, coming of age does not stop there. It continues when we learn about raising families, and continues further when our families leave us to move on to adulthood themselves. Finally, we come to our senior years and we have all been there and done that. This little film shows how life is still interesting way past your sixties. Nice acting job by both leads and good direction.
If it's on TV, go for 25 Walks
brian-854662 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This was a very disappointing film, Alison Steadman's talent was wasted on this script. I was very sad, as I had expected to enjoy the film.
The Fern and Dave characters weren't particularly well written, and I don't believe Dave would really have fallen for her, she wasn't a very nice person, so more suited to the husband she had just divorced.
The film didn't flow, and the penultimate scene jarred somewhat; Dave had just offered to help her move into her new home, and the next scene I thought, oh right, they were struggling to get a large wardrobe up the stairs...cringingly wrong!
Production wise, the background music was often too loud to hear some of the dialogue between the leads, and occasionally the dialogue sounded like it had been recorded in an empty baked bean can.
At least the dogs were good in the film, especially Tilly, I thought she could have made more of her big moment at the end, but.she probably couldn't wait to escape the mess.
The Fern and Dave characters weren't particularly well written, and I don't believe Dave would really have fallen for her, she wasn't a very nice person, so more suited to the husband she had just divorced.
The film didn't flow, and the penultimate scene jarred somewhat; Dave had just offered to help her move into her new home, and the next scene I thought, oh right, they were struggling to get a large wardrobe up the stairs...cringingly wrong!
Production wise, the background music was often too loud to hear some of the dialogue between the leads, and occasionally the dialogue sounded like it had been recorded in an empty baked bean can.
At least the dogs were good in the film, especially Tilly, I thought she could have made more of her big moment at the end, but.she probably couldn't wait to escape the mess.
Walking Around in Circles
jamesmoule19 August 2020
Why does Graham Cole (a.k.a PC Stamp) get top billing?Dave Johns and Alison Steadman are the only major characters and they do a fine job with a script that lacks originality or plot. I was expecting a major incident to launch the story but it never happened.
There is, of course, great care to achieve racial balance and this adds to the impression that the whole movie is calculated and formulaic.
Anyone familiar with the book / film "Our Souls at Night" will see the similarities. There must be an untapped market for love stories involving aged baby-boomers but this attempt covers old ground. It is tedious and just runs out of steam. Very disappointing.
If you want real life this is it.
joes1995-206-52147519 September 2021
Spoiler alert!
craigmount-669285 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I was recommended this by a friend who said it was a lovely film. I found it so sad! The romance between Dave and Fern was very well acted and more poignant than funny, although parts made me smile.
It was very realistic with Dave trying to cope with life and a wife with dementia. Anybody in this or a simple situation will be able to sympathise with him. Likewise with Fern and her reluctance to get involved in a relationship after a disastrous marriage.
As a dog lover I was delighted to see the wonderful interaction between the two dogs. I was very concerned when Tilly, the GSD, started to get ill and then died! As they say, I don't care who dies as long as the dog lives.
The.
It was very realistic with Dave trying to cope with life and a wife with dementia. Anybody in this or a simple situation will be able to sympathise with him. Likewise with Fern and her reluctance to get involved in a relationship after a disastrous marriage.
As a dog lover I was delighted to see the wonderful interaction between the two dogs. I was very concerned when Tilly, the GSD, started to get ill and then died! As they say, I don't care who dies as long as the dog lives.
The.
Kitchen Sink Drama, In The Sink!
martimusross12 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
23 Walks
Dave, played by Dave Johns was positively creepy in his pursuit of Fern, played by Alison Steadman, from the get go, to my mind not a good start.
This was presented as a comedy and the bar is a low 6 out loud laughs per movie, I didn't laugh once so that's a fail.
We had some terrible profiling, all nurses are poor, even in retirement, Dave was a qualified mental health nurse and his wife was a qualified nurse in intensive care, he would have his fabulous pension and half of her's for life when she dies and that before he even qualifies for his state pension.
We then had a strange Jane Eyre moment when he courted a woman promised everything and then revealed he was married and his wife was still alive, what a terrible thing, and hardly a comedy scenario!
Dave John's really just can't act, it was as if he was in a Morcambe and Wise play and reading the lines off his sleeve. The benefits office scene was just so absurd, when he could just have got a job, working as a bank nurse in mental health, he said he was looking after his wife but in reality she was in a care home.
Overall this was a 1 out of 10, meaning I just felt emotionally manipulated by a substandard product.
Dave, played by Dave Johns was positively creepy in his pursuit of Fern, played by Alison Steadman, from the get go, to my mind not a good start.
This was presented as a comedy and the bar is a low 6 out loud laughs per movie, I didn't laugh once so that's a fail.
We had some terrible profiling, all nurses are poor, even in retirement, Dave was a qualified mental health nurse and his wife was a qualified nurse in intensive care, he would have his fabulous pension and half of her's for life when she dies and that before he even qualifies for his state pension.
We then had a strange Jane Eyre moment when he courted a woman promised everything and then revealed he was married and his wife was still alive, what a terrible thing, and hardly a comedy scenario!
Dave John's really just can't act, it was as if he was in a Morcambe and Wise play and reading the lines off his sleeve. The benefits office scene was just so absurd, when he could just have got a job, working as a bank nurse in mental health, he said he was looking after his wife but in reality she was in a care home.
Overall this was a 1 out of 10, meaning I just felt emotionally manipulated by a substandard product.
Ambling Entertainment
southdavid25 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Crippled as I am by indecision when it comes to choosing entertainment, I again allowed Sky Movies to select my night by watching the first film alphabetically that I hadn't already seen. With an air of resignation I saw that it was "23 Walks" a romantic dramedy about two people at the tail end of middle age, who enter a relationship having met walking their dogs. I appreciate that there's an audience for this, who would balk at a science fiction extravaganza the way I recoil here, but I can't say that I enjoyed the film.
Widower Dave (Dave Johns) and Divorcee Fern (Alison Steadman) meet walking their dogs in the parks of London. Though initially at odds, they become friends, meeting each other's families and on the way to a relationship. Dave is struggling financially to hold on to his council house but is desperate to remain nearby as he has a secret he is keeping from Fern. His wife, Marcy (Marsha Millar) has not passed, but is in assisted living facility as she has early on set dementia and does not remember her husband.
It might be tempting in light of this storyline to say that the film is an 'issues' film, but I feel like it's not emotionally deep enough for this to really be the case. It has nods towards the idea of what life is like for a spouse whose partner has, for all intents and purposes, gone - even if they remain alive. There's only really one scene which addresses the impact of this on Dave's family, with his daughter scolding him about the new relationship - even though, at that stage, it is little more than company. Similarly, the housing issue is glossed over, perhaps as there's really little he can do against a reasonable council request. The bottom line is, in those regards, the film is too sweet for its own good.
The conceit of the relationship being across 23 dog walks is largely forgotten after the first few scenes, so much so I wonder why it was the title, or that the opening few walks are counted by an onscreen notation. Personally, I didn't think the performances were very good either, even from Alison Steadman, who I think is brilliant in most things she's in.
It's not for me, clearly, and I can see from the other reviews that some people got more out of it, but that doesn't mean that I can earnest recommend a movie that I found so bland.
Widower Dave (Dave Johns) and Divorcee Fern (Alison Steadman) meet walking their dogs in the parks of London. Though initially at odds, they become friends, meeting each other's families and on the way to a relationship. Dave is struggling financially to hold on to his council house but is desperate to remain nearby as he has a secret he is keeping from Fern. His wife, Marcy (Marsha Millar) has not passed, but is in assisted living facility as she has early on set dementia and does not remember her husband.
It might be tempting in light of this storyline to say that the film is an 'issues' film, but I feel like it's not emotionally deep enough for this to really be the case. It has nods towards the idea of what life is like for a spouse whose partner has, for all intents and purposes, gone - even if they remain alive. There's only really one scene which addresses the impact of this on Dave's family, with his daughter scolding him about the new relationship - even though, at that stage, it is little more than company. Similarly, the housing issue is glossed over, perhaps as there's really little he can do against a reasonable council request. The bottom line is, in those regards, the film is too sweet for its own good.
The conceit of the relationship being across 23 dog walks is largely forgotten after the first few scenes, so much so I wonder why it was the title, or that the opening few walks are counted by an onscreen notation. Personally, I didn't think the performances were very good either, even from Alison Steadman, who I think is brilliant in most things she's in.
It's not for me, clearly, and I can see from the other reviews that some people got more out of it, but that doesn't mean that I can earnest recommend a movie that I found so bland.
Warm, real and hopeful, without being sentimental
ian-830-55081230 September 2020
Charmless
davidssefton24 January 2021
Wooden acting
mcallister1261 July 2023
This is an easy going, undemanding sort of a movie that stumbles along, without any real flow or cohesion.
It's about two sixty somethings, who are now single, and meet up while walking their dogs. The movie is supposed to show how their relationship develops over the course of 23 walks.
Simple enough, but, to be honest, it's only the two dogs that make it watchable.
Alison Steadman carries off her role competently, as you would expect.
My initial concern was that it might be a bit twee. However, what really lets the film down is the wooden acting of Dave Johns. He is just so unconvincing that it's difficult to empathise with his character. Nor can you relate to the issues in the film because of this.
It's about two sixty somethings, who are now single, and meet up while walking their dogs. The movie is supposed to show how their relationship develops over the course of 23 walks.
Simple enough, but, to be honest, it's only the two dogs that make it watchable.
Alison Steadman carries off her role competently, as you would expect.
My initial concern was that it might be a bit twee. However, what really lets the film down is the wooden acting of Dave Johns. He is just so unconvincing that it's difficult to empathise with his character. Nor can you relate to the issues in the film because of this.
Nice idea but slow and dperessing
thekarmicnomad18 June 2023
On paper this could be an endearing and brave film - in reality it is quite an arduous experience.
For this setup you really need to connect with the main characters - I just didn't.
Rather than rounded personalities they just feel like sums of their many misfortunes.
The dialogue between the two is stilted and doesn't feel organic. Dave dispenses fortune cookie nuggets in between making some shockingly bad moves. Fern just switches between guarded and angry with some rare moments of what could almost pass as joy.
The film is visually flat: taking place in grey fields, drab council offices, dour flats and hospitals.
The story is very simple but even then, it relies on some rather silly decisions to generate some conflict.
All 23 walks of the title are almost all identical.
As much as I wanted to like this, everything about it feels designed to suck the energy from you.
I found the themes of sickness, loneliness, isolation, entropy, poverty and tedium totally draining.
For this setup you really need to connect with the main characters - I just didn't.
Rather than rounded personalities they just feel like sums of their many misfortunes.
The dialogue between the two is stilted and doesn't feel organic. Dave dispenses fortune cookie nuggets in between making some shockingly bad moves. Fern just switches between guarded and angry with some rare moments of what could almost pass as joy.
The film is visually flat: taking place in grey fields, drab council offices, dour flats and hospitals.
The story is very simple but even then, it relies on some rather silly decisions to generate some conflict.
All 23 walks of the title are almost all identical.
As much as I wanted to like this, everything about it feels designed to suck the energy from you.
I found the themes of sickness, loneliness, isolation, entropy, poverty and tedium totally draining.
Worth The Watch
hobbitmann16 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I didn't see that this movie deserved less than a 7 and can't see why a lot of reviewers gave it a 3 or 2. These are both notable actors who were very natural in an awkward and difficult situation they portrayedto. How do you handle the need for companionship in the later years of life within their situation. In my opinion a well done and a captivating film. As a dog owner the loss of Tilley was actually felt and the dog who played her should be up for an award along with the dog who played Henry, who both kept my attention throughout. It is a recommended watch.
Alison Steadman is brilliant!!!!!
galuwatra25 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of the sweetest films I've ever seen. REAL life, at a certain age. Having been a caregiver for a grandmother, with Alzheimer's it was very relatable. At their age, over 50 we have all dealt with a LOT. The cast list is off, Alison Steadman is the star, of this film.
Well paced
vansantfan6 February 2021
I really liked this film it had a nice pace to it and I'm a big fan of Alison steadman anyway so it's nice to see her in film. Dave John's gives a terrific performance too and plenty of good comedic lines. The dogs were fantastic. It reminded me a bit of a Mike leigh film in its pace and script. Funnily enough steadman was married to Mike leigh for 20 odd years!
It has moments of sadness and comedy combined. The scenery was nice where they walked their dogs and the houses used looked cosy. Overall an impressive film, one that I'll keep on dvd to watch again.
It has moments of sadness and comedy combined. The scenery was nice where they walked their dogs and the houses used looked cosy. Overall an impressive film, one that I'll keep on dvd to watch again.
Excellent script
cathyannemoore-661969 October 2021
I enjoyed this film very much. The characters are a similar age to myself. And the depiction of a relationships and issues in later life are very true to life. It's very well written and the actors are well cast. The pace and direction is just right.
Sweet Story of Loss and Love (AKA, 'LIFE')
cemguru3 July 2022
Found the circumstances to be very relatable and a good reflection of modern, messy, complicated life. Reminded me that - no matter our age - there's plenty of life to live and that, by embracing the grief that life delivers to us all, we can learn to live in the moment with grief as a constant, but not dominant, companion.
Glad we discovered this little gem.
Glad we discovered this little gem.
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