Walking on Sunshine

Let me begin with a confession: I only went to see this as it was a freebie from those nice people at showfilmfirst.com - do sign up if you haven't already. Let me continue with a second confession: I almost walked out during the second song!

This film is a musical set in Puglia in Italy and the soundtrack is comprised wholly of iconic chart-toppers from the 1980's. If this film was analysed from the dry world of the academy it would garner a low score - at present IMDb has it at 5/10.  However, if you accept that you are not going to get the A-list stars of a film like Mamma Mia to which it will inevitably be compared, and furthermore accept that the plot is very straightforward, then you can sit back and enjoy this film with all its naive gaiety and thumping dance music soundtrack. For me the music was the soundtrack of my 20's and with each song memories of people and places came flooding back.

I'm so glad I stuck it out! The singing is on the whole very good, the leads were beautifully cast, the scenery was so at one with the story and you didn't need to pay attention to the narrative arc as you knew where it was going right from the outset. To my mind the dialogue linked the songs and most of the storytelling was done through song which for me worked extremely well - better than most other musicals I have endured. (If you follow this blog you will know that I am not a fan of musicals.)

All that said the film had me in floods of tears and I nearly had emotional meltdown during the wedding scene. The key thing to remember is that when you feel something so strongly that all you want to do is to shout it from the rooftops, that doing so can actually change the world and restore everything to its place of equilibrium. I must try it sometime.

The film did have some weightier moments like Maddie's epiphany at the altar and Katy Brand's great performance as friend Lil. This is a film about love, emotions, friendships, sisters and tomatoes. Most of all the film will be remembered for its shiny happy (beautiful) people, energy and the soundtrack. It is a feel good film that will bring a smile to your face - if you can get through the first couple of songs. I'm still humming the songs and smiling as I do so. As our summer does its usual likely trick and evaporates, go and see this and reboot that warm sunny feeling - it will have you walking on sunshine. I'll give it 7/10.