The Cornish contingent from Fisherman’s Friends (2019) are back to appreciate sea shanties anew in Fisherman’s Friends: One and All. The earlier film was about many local mates who were unexpectedly signed to an international record label and recorded a top 10 hit with their debut album.
In the sequel Jim (James Purefoy) once again leads the group. But his father, Jago (David Hayman), also an original member of the crew, has died and Jim is out of sorts – grouchy and contrary. Jago remains very much in Jim’s thoughts (as reflected in the multiple dream sequences). Jim has allowed booze to take over and he is anything but a happy drunk. With a position in the group open, the record label is keen to see the spot filled – not that the remaining nine seem in any hurry. The label is also about to release the group’s second album, but problems start to mount.
Political correctness isn’t Jim’s strong suit and he publicly disgraces himself. He has an issue with the man chosen to fill the void in the group and falls out with Aubrey Flynn (Imelda May) a guest staying at his mother Maggie’s (Maggie Steed) Airbnb. Turns out Aubrey was a former Irish music bad girl who crashed and burned. Now, she’s opted for the quieter life. If the group has any chance of succeeding, a lot of making up is needed. And the head of the music studio is far from convinced these old-style musos are worth the risk.
Fisherman’s Friend: One and All is – like its predecessor – a feel-good film with a strong score and beautiful scenery and cinematography. But it suffers from a transparent plot written by Piers Ashworth, Meg Leonard and Nick Moorcroft, who also wrote the original. Chris Foggin is gone from the director’s chair, with Leonard and Moorcroft installed.
The surprises are few and far between. The whole thing looks and feels manufactured. Still, like the first film, the rousing and infectious music gets into your head. The rocky shoreline setting is sublime. Cinematographer Toby Moore has a landscape par excellence to work with and serves it up delightfully.
Performance wise, all are serviceable. They do the jobs asked of them, making the characters as credible as they can, given the shortcomings of the script. Nothing about what the actors do seems unduly forced, notwithstanding the fact that they play everything by the numbers. James Purefoy is suitably surly, David Hayman observant, Maggie Steed reasoned and so on. Record label employee Gareth (Joshua McGuire) is introduced for comic effect. Depending on your perspective, you’ll either accept him at face value or find him grating. Leah Jordan (Jade Anouka) is a more solid presence as his boss.
Fisherman’s Friends: One and All then, is – for the most part – pleasant enough, but so predictable.
Alex First
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Alex First is a Melbourne based journalist and communications specialist. He contributes to The Blurb on film and theatre.
