User Reviews

I live here and I truly did. BUT. First of all it's a rip off of a movie "La Grande Seduction" which was shown about 10 years ago. A much better movie, full of charm.

This movie? Admittedly I was turned off early in the game when a young girl's virginity was put on the auction block to tempt a doctor to come to the town of 125 people to facilitate a manufacturing plant's arrival. And then to increase the ick factor her father questions the validity of her "barrier".

Suspension of disbelief is called for with a bank servicing a community of 125. Not in my Canada. And a post office. And a bar (commonly called "clubs" in Newfoundland) And how on earth would a doctor make a living in a town of 125? Gordon Pinsent, an eminent grise of Canadian actors, gives a fine performance along with Brendan Gleeson and other stalwarts of Newfoundland theatre and movies.

There was much to like and much to dislike in the film. A doctor, engaged to be married, attempts to fool around with the post mistress? And then goes into high dudgeon when he learns his fiancée fools around on him? These weaknesses of script could have been tidied up, the scenery, as always takes one's breath away, the excellent supporting cast and cinematography vie for attention.

6 out of 10. There was an original script in here. It's a shame it wasn't written.

The movie opens with a scene displaying fishermen heading out to sea late at night (or early in the morning to them), which really isn't in the past at all. I thought then that I would thoroughly enjoy this film, and that it would be an authentic depiction of life in rural areas of this island such as that in which I grew up. I come from a long line of fishermen, up until this current season my own father would leave at 2-3 in the morning like you see at the beginning of this movie to head out to sea.

Next, we see current-day residents of the town lining up to cash welfare checks. I found this incredibly offensive and it really put a damper on the rest of the film for me. The reason I came on here to write this review is I don't want people to think that is what this province is like. People work, and they work hard.

But, as for the rest of the film, trying my hardest to look past this, I found many aspects to be stretched a bit too far. A city slicker doctor who likes cricket and jazz? Who pours his heart out to his fiancée on the phone while also trying to seduce the one attractive local? I suppose its inauthenticity in regards to the setting can be traced to the fact that it is a remake of a story based in another place entirely, perhaps their residents felt the same way about the original film.

Believe me, I love a good uplifting story. I'm certainly in a minority in terms of potentially being offended by the way my people are portrayed. I know certain types will enjoy it, my girlfriend did, but I cant recommend it.

I thought the movie was fantastic, although I did not realize it was a remake. It was nearly perfect - except for the daughter's virginity issue...Why was that even included? Taylor Kitsch is a very good actor. I was pleasantly surprised that he didn't play a "tough guy"...His performance had heart and soul. Mr. Gleeson did a very good job playing the mastermind - if you will. I always believe that from desperation comes the best work we do in life as human beings..The scenery was amazing. And the two elderly switchboard operators were a hoot. So glad to see an independent movie - not some mindless blockbuster...It was a real movie - with real people. Very good.

**Warning: Possible spoilers** Tickle Cove is a down on its luck fishing village (I mean harbour) where the populous is forced to live month to month on government welfare checks. After the mayor sneaks away in the middle of the night to find work, self appointed new mayor Murray French (Brendan Gleeson) is determined to do everything he can to bring a new petrochemical recycling plant to town, but there is one hitch; the village must have a doctor before the plant can be built. When a doctor is sent to Tickle Cove to serve out a month of community service Murray and the entire village will go to ludicrous lengths to make sure their new doctor stays.

This is a gloriously charming film. It is one of the most enjoyable films I have seen in a long time with outstanding performances by everyone involved. It is hard not to become attached to these characters and remain invested in them throughout the entire movie.

"The Grand Seduction" gets my whole hearted approval. I would definitely recommend this movie.

From the first time I saw the trailer for The Grand Seduction I was intrigued. I'm not a huge connoisseur of Canadian film by any means but I find lately they have really been finding their groove when it comes to being unique Canadian. In addition to that, while I was born and raised in Ontario, Canada, my father's entire family including him were born, raised and still live in small town Newfoundland. I've often thought how quirky and fun a comedy in that setting could be so immediately I thought this was full of potential. I expected a "Full Monty" feel with some genuinely good laughs and just a very down home feel. In some respects you will get that and there is a decent story with some okay characters but when its all done and said you're left feeling a little empty. The characters never really take off, in fact some are just wasted and the story lacks any real pizazz so really the film is just okay. It isn't terrible by any means and as expected the scenery in and around the locations they shoot is stunning. I expect the film will appeal more to a much older crowd and I understand it is doing very well out east and that makes sense too. Perhaps there wasn't enough time to tell the full story because I also thought this would make an awesome TV Series (similar to Northern Exposure but the Eastern Canada Version.)

Brendan Gleeson leads the cast and does very well. His character is definitely the one that gets the most development and focus and a lot of really good emotional depth. I like Gleeson but I'm surprised they couldn't find a Canadian guy, much less an Easterner to play the role. Still Gleeson is good. The only true blooded Newfoundlander in the film is Gordon Pinsent and I was perhaps most excited to see him in a supporting role and had my hopes quickly dashed. Pinsent is perhaps the most underused and completely wasted character in the entire film. He is such a legendary Canadian actor and it seems like they tried to give his character some quirky depth but it never works and he's practically background fodder and that is unforgivable. Taylor Kitsch (better known to me as the guy who ruins every potential blockbuster) is our big city Doctor who inadvertently ends up forced into their small community. Kitsch keeps getting this pivotal roles (Battleship, John Carter and Savages and all three flopped colossally. However, he fits this role very well. He is meant to be the ultimate fish out of water and a character with a lot of flaws and he does it very well. He was probably my favourite performance of the movie. He and Gleeson have good chemistry (could have been better but it was still good) and he definitely does a good job. The main cast are hardly given any depth so you can imagine the supporting cast gets completely mis-used. The rudimentary attempt a romantic storyline is lost on a hardly used or established character played by Liane Balaban and the townsfolk that should have been downright hilarious are too few and far between to make an impact.

The Grand Seduction is simply average in every way. If you're an Easterner than you might enjoy it more but otherwise you'll find it almost boring at times. None of the gags work to really make a different and the story feels forced at other times. The potential is absolutely there but it just isn't. A legend in his own right director Don McKellar seems to not be able to find his footing with this film. Maybe my expectations were too high? Try it on for size but be prepared for mediocrity it almost every way. Last week's Cas & Dylan was a far better made Canadian film. 6/10