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Reviews
Stevens & McCarthy (2021)
Feels like unfunny 1970s poor imitation
Comedy unit in Scotland is always cheap looking but this is cheap all over. Unfunny, slow paced. The writing is atrocious. Stolen unfunny gags and tropes from other shows. And the cast don't have the versatility to diversify it. All for all female programming but there are plenty of actually funny actors out there. You just won't find it here. Maybe if they did a show that wasn't sketch and character based. There just isn't any range in here. And the west coast Glasgow comedy vibe is just old. Scotland deserves better. Why don't we have things like 30 Rock or US office kicking about. Instead it's rough and poor sketch shows badly directed written and produced.
The smokers felt like a Chewin the fat rip off, the sisters felt dull and unimaginative and far too long, the vegans was a tired stereotype that made me dislike the actors for thinking they were above this, there was a sniff of something in the ambulance but I can't see that running a series, the neds are an unfunny Kevin and Perry which is dated, the odd reality stars with the teeth and worst green screen was enough to turn off. Which I would have if it wasn't 10 minutes long. The fact the show is named after the two leads makes you think they have a trick up their sleeve but they don't. Recast and rename this with more diversified talent and scripts. Otherwise it's fit for the bin.
A Castle for Christmas (2021)
Tired and out of date for Netflix
Netflix are trying their hand at the Hallmark and Lifetime audience pool. But the format doesn't always sit well if you try to change up a few things.
I love myself a seasonal TV movie. The cliches are rife but the warmth and spirit are always high.
Not sure why it bothered me here, as most American films shoot in the summer or spring, but the obvious summer shooting for the film with all trees in glorious foliage really distracted me from the winter look. I just didn't believe it. Aesthetically I would much prefer the slightly colder bleak look of an actual Scottish winter to a lush green one. It offsets the love and warmth of the relationship.
Cary Elwes accent is dire but I much prefer they tried something that make him just English. Scots can be over protective over their accent but at least there is an attempt here. They'd complain if it was an English accent too. And would want the same old Scottish actors to play the part. At least Cary has a fan base and a pull to the film. It was enjoyable seeing him back on screen.
But something just lacks here. Maybe Brooke Shields is last her best? But the supporting cast seemed to work better than the stars here.
It gets a lower score here because Netflix has bigger budgets than Hallmark and Lifetime festive endeavours and they pull out warmer and fuzzier films. It's not terrible but it's not up there in the top 100.
Perfect Strangers (2020)
They definitely lost Christmas
This really isn't a Christmas romance or comedy. There's snow and some gift wrapping around but otherwise void of sentiment.
It feels like this is a sarcastic jibe at what Christmas films are rather than lodging itself in the genre. But it isn't a satire. The production values are low, which is fine. Some bad lighting etc can be forgiven for finishing a movie on smaller budgets but in 2021 where people film on iPhones, your expectations are higher.
This did not deserve to be on BBC. It feels like a paid for Prime film. I thought I'd like the cast at the start but they played one note the whole way through. One trick ponies. Maybe that's through direction or inexperience.
This film also claims to have been the first Scottish Christmas film which is not true at all. Self proclamation aside, I want to watch a Christmas film to feel happy, not depressive. Or indeed watch an alternative Christmas film to Regale the humbug or satire. This neither sits anywhere than directly in humbug, without the wink.
Really shows what comes out of Scottish films shown on BBC. This can't be how good it can be. Otherwise the industry is already dead.
Hawkeye (2021)
Jeremy Renner as he should be
This is finally time to shine for the actor. Most of the MCU it looked like he just turned up and didn't know why he was there. He's finally got airtime and a GOOD story. Loki was a mess with bad CGI, poorly directed and mostly sat down dialogue scenes for 90%, WandaVision was a visual feast every episode, Falcon and Winter Soldier was important but lacked a better villain until New Cap got crazy, this feels the most rounded.
I love that it also uses the real run up to Christmas to tease of he'll make it back or not. Each week it's like you're watching the story in real-time.
The action is great, the dialogue is slick, the direction is tight and emotive and the cast look like they're all in the same production. A good one. A rightful place for Hawkeye to shine.