Italienische Verführung

I was dragged along to see School For Seduction by my girlfriend who was dying to see the film. I have to say, I'm glad I went!

The film was highly entertaining, and not just because I was able to watch Kelly Brook seduce everything from a broomstick to a room full of salivating men (a lot better than watching miss jones wibbling into her diary about hugh grant, I can tell you!). There was more than enough laughs, an engaging plot and some good emotional parts (for the ladies, of course).

So, if you want to earn yourself some brownie points with that special lady in your life, take her to see School For Seduction (and you won't have to suffer the usual drawl that your average chick-flick spits out)

Every once in a while, I like to sit back and watch a "chick flick." Writer/Director Sue Heel's first effort was mostly enjoyable as a time passer, but there is nothing special to recommend it.

Kelly Brook (House of 9) was exquisite as the Italian beauty the opened up a school for charm and seduction for ordinary London housewives. I assume it was London, but what do I know. I am still trying to figure out what a "chippy" is. She was far less believable as her secret is revealed in the third act.

It was a funny story of men/woman problems, and how a little conversation would serve us all well in our relationships.

I am still trying to figure out why this got an "R" rating. Did I fall asleep?

I don't remember laughing so much at any film! There are just so many good scenes, with great acting, moments of silence, surprised looks and just funny, funny.

Most of that comes from the great writing, but all the actors have to do their stuff too, and they do, even the males who mostly are made out to be total idiots, and up themselves.

It starts out in Italy where a bunch of girls are being taught, one of them is Sophia, (Kelly Brook) who promptly walks out on her stupid husband and heads back to Newcastle, England, where she was brought up and went to school.

She sets up similar school, to teach woman to be themselves, and gets some really interesting clients, mostly women whose partners don't seem to appreciate them. It helps the film that all the women are stunningly beautiful, and the guys are also quite good looking.

Emily Woof, Dervla Kirwan are great, and Tim Healy as a middle-aged guy and his wife give a different, and funny, slant on proceedings. Ben Porter is Toni, a drag queen. This guy has real talent, his song and dance scene is so good I'd love to see more!

Nearly a ten rating, but the last few minutes get a bit too serious.

(3/10)

So obviously made as a female take on 'The Full Monty', this film is so carefully constructed according to a 'formula' that all life has been almost totally sucked out of it (except for the actress who plays the checkout girl, she's pretty good). Typically British, unadventurous, predictable, visually flat (it looks like an ITV drama) and not very funny. Also, Kelly Brook acts OK, has a great figure, and a lovely smile to boot, but frankly she isn't the 10-out-of-10 stunner that this character is supposed to be. It's obviously been made as a vehicle for her, but she has been miscast!

School for Seduction is a charming and mildly entertaining film about a bunch of women who mostly work at an Asda supermarket in Newcastle. Their men either don't understand them or take them for granted. They decide to become sexier and more confident and take a course in seduction run by Kelly Brook. Inevitably as they start to take charge of their lives, their outlook and relationships start to change. The acting is excellent and the characters are believable. Sue Heel has written an amusing script.

The film doesn't try and appeal to a trans-Atlantic audience, so there are no-American stars. It just looks like life in Newcastle, warts and all. As a British expat living in the U.S. it was good to be reminded about the existence of saveloys and chips.