Fisherman’ Friend is apparently based on a true story of ‘sea shantying’ Cornish fishermen, I must admit I have never heard of them so from this point of view I was expecting anything from the story and knew nothing about it. How accurate is the film? I do not know.
It must be said that Fisherman’s Friend is predictable and safe from the minute the film opens. Despite the wiles of the edging, money-grubbing Londoners on display, you know that their bickering and abandoning of Danny is going to be about as nasty as the film gets. So it proves.
This in itself is no bad thing but to be honest Fisherman’s Friend is in a huge mountain of underdogs winning against all odds and despite themselves from the UK and across the pond. There is a definite tick-list of plot points throughout the film. Absentee dad who is replaced by our ‘hero’, love between unlikely characters and near-disaster and redemption. You have seen this before. The Full Monty comes to mind and myriad films before and in-between too.
All the cast are comfortable and confident in their roles with Danny Mays and Tuppence Middleton standing out in what could be considered thankless roles and James Purefoy does well with his grumpy curmudgeon.
There is nothing more you can really say about Fisherman’s Friend, Cornwall looks nice, the folk and lovely and stereo-typed and despite it all have each other’s backs with a good sense of humour. A bit like real life but also a bit not like real life.
Apart from a bit of fruity language this is perfect Sunday afternoon watching. If you watch films on a regular basis you know what is going to happen, you will laugh and if you are so inclined you might cry, and you will be safe. From this point of view this is Fisherman’s Friends strong point, it also Fisherman’s Friends weak point.
And yes, they did succumb to the Fisherman’s Friend obvious joke.
If your looking for warm, underdog rising, light watch for an evening, this will tick the boxes. If you enjoy tight male harmonies and songs of the sea, this will be a delight. If you’re a fan of DOC MARTIN, you will love seeing Port Isaac as Port Hope. I found Daniel Mays a bit of a hard sell for a leading man but Tuppence Middleton would charm the sailors to the rocks (I’ve been a fan ever since SENSE8). Really enjoyed this on an evening when I didn’t need to think and I could just soak in the charm, the music and the view. I give this movie a 8 (very good) out of 10. [Light drama]
If you've watched Kinky Boots or Calendar Girls, you needn't waste your time with this sickeningly formulaic and twee movie which just doesn't feel genuine to me. I used to live in Cornwall, which doesn't often star in films (sadly, it's a beautiful and varied location with a fantastic potential for film) so one would think I might have liked it, but alas.
Am not a fan of sea shantys - they come just behind brass band music and bagpipes in my list of musical turnoffs - but this is still a fairly pleasant, albeit predictable tale that is a reasonably okay watch.
Shout by Saint PaulyBlockedParent2021-07-11T16:48:35Z
Like a beach town souvenir shop's music shelf with its ocean sounds and whale songs: you already know every cheesy moment you're in store for.
At the beginning of the movie, the young local woman bumps into the young obnoxious man visiting from the city and dislikes him intensely. In that instant, you know their whole story arc throughout the entire film. Every scene in the movie is exactly like this.
This (based on a true) story of proud, Cornish fishermen who sing sea shanties is as genuine as the cast is Cornish. (Spoiler Alert: none of the cast is Cornish.)