The Grand Seduction

As the title suggests the movie might seduce you. It might sort of trick you into liking it. Why trick you? Because you could easily depict the movie and the story it tries to tell you. It would be very easy in fact. But it's not only the actors (Brendan Gleeson heading the group as "leader"), but also the way the story is portrayed.

You will know where this is going, so if you don't like predictable movies, you might want to stay away from this. But you'd be missing on a feel good movie, that really has a lot of heart. Taylor Kitsch might have done some movies that weren't successful and you might not think of him much, but he's doing a good job in this. He's convincing and carries the movie with the others through the finish line ... or whatever equivalent there is in the game he likes ...

A great movie with a stellar cast...was lucky to see the premiere during TIFF. I haven't laughed so much throughout a movie for a long time. In fact will have to see it again to catch all of the conversations as audience was laughing so much. Surprised to hear everyone breaking out in applause at various times during the movie. Very uplifting, well worth the price of admission. Gordon Pinsent and Brendan Gleeson's parts were my favorite characters, both superbly played by these talented actors. And Taylor Kitsch in the role of Dr. Lewis was the perfect straight man (handsome too). Congrats to writers Michael Dowse and Ken Scott for drawing attention to the plight of east coasters and treating a subject which could have been depressing with humor and compassion. Kudos too to Don McKellar for his directing accomplishment.

"We have one month to convince our good doctor to sign long term." The town of Tickle Cove is starting to collapse economically. The residents are living on welfare checks and watching everyone they love move into the big city. When they have a chance to secure a contract for a factory for the town they need to do whatever they can. The first thing they need is a doctor. Dr. Lewis (Kitsch) comes to the harbor for a month and local local mayor Murray French (Gleeson) enlists the help of the town to do anything that will make him stay. I have liked pretty much anything that Brendan Gleeson has done. This one is no exception. One of the biggest pet peeves I have about movies is when they're too predictable. Almost from the beginning you are able to tell what will happen and how the movie will end. This is one of the few exceptions where that doesn't hurt the enjoyment of the movie. The writing and comedy is what keeps you watching and laughing the whole way through. It's very entertaining watching the lengths the towns people go to to impress the doctor. The stuff with cricket is my favorite. This is a movie that may not be for everyone but I liked it and I recommend it. Overall, a movie that is very predictable but for once that doesn't hurt the movie. I recommend this but again it's not really for everyone. I give it a B+.

I am not usually a fan of these types of movies, but my friends convinced me to see it and I am so very glad I did. It was funny and silly and very well acted. I must say the "Dr" was not hard on the eyes either.

The setting of Tickle Head was beautiful and reflects on the times in Newfoundland.

My husband saw the French version of the film years ago, but really enjoyed this version as well.

I would totally recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good laugh. There people of all ages teens to seniors in the theatre and we all laughed at the same times.

'THE GRAND SEDUCTION': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

Comedy flick about a small harbor community, in Newfoundland, who try to seduce a plastic surgeon, from a major Canadian city, into being their doctor. It's an English-speaking remake of the 2003 French-Canadian film 'LA GRANDE SEDUCTION' (which was set on the coast of Quebec). It was written by Michael Dowse and Ken Scott (the original movie's writer) and directed by Don McKellar. The film stars Brendan Gleeson and Taylor Kitsch (of 'JOHN CARTER', 'LONE SURVIVOR' and 'FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS' fame). I found the movie to be pretty silly at times but still funny and ultimately uplifting.

The story begins with Murray French (Gleeson) telling (through voice-over narration) how Tickle Head used to be a town of proud fishermen. Now nearly everyone is unemployed and collects welfare. Murray, like the other men of the town, desperately wants Tickle Head to secure a deal which would allow a chemical plant to be built there; this factory would create enough jobs for everyone. In order to do so they must have a community doctor. When Dr. Christopher Lewis (Kitsch) is stopped at the St. John's airport, with cocaine, the former mayor of Tickle Head (who is now a flight security agent) makes him a deal; Dr. Lewis must spend a month in Tickle Head as their doctor. It's up to Murray, and the whole town, to convince him to stay longer; which requires a lot of lying and seduction.

The movie isn't original at all; it reminds me of many other films, about small towns and trickery (most notably 'WAKING NED DEVINE'). A lot of the humor in it is pretty cheesy and some of the characters seem exaggerated. Still the movie does have a lot of character, and charm, and parts of it are pretty funny. The performances are great and, in the end, I really did care about the characters; the sentimentality of the film is what doesn't feel cheesy (unlike a lot of the jokes). That's why I liked it.

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