Off the Rails

I really looked forward to watching this movie and was so disappointed. It was far fetched to the point where we just burst outlaughing. It was never explained what caused the beach to age everyone on it. I didn't realise it was a comedy 😂

Okay, so it is a sweet film with a mixed up plot and loud BLONDIE music. Good to see Kelly Preston before she left this world.

Why BLONDIE music? And why so loud?

This clever inversion of the road movie genre sees a group of women trying to recreate their teenage Interrail journey from London to Mallorca and wittily confronting the reality of life in their 50s along the route.

Making the most of its superb cast and great Blondie soundtrack, the film powers through Europe and a succession of misadventures that threaten to derail the journey. Strong female characters are front and centre throughout the film and when Dan (Ben Miller) tries to ride to their rescue he finds the ladies have other ideas.

Trainspotters may quibble about the representation of the European rail network, but film buffs should look out for the cinematic references: the final scene, for example, is a carefully-crafted homage to Thelma & Louise.

The film is released at a difficult time: Brexit and Covid took a toll on the very idea of European travel and, of course, Kelly Preston sadly died last year. However, the essence of the film is a promise of new beginnings and it ends with a sorely-needed message of hope.

What starts out as a good idea,three 50 something women brought back together following the death of a friend, who as a parting gift leave them 4 tickets for them to take her 18yr old daughter on a cross european train journey to fulfill her dying wish. For a premise that had so much potential, the movie felt flat, slow moving, dull and at the dialogue was painful and corney, rather than funny. The actors were quite good, but werent given a good enough script to work with. Each of the main characters backstories and their individual "issues" werent well explored and it was hard to believe them as friends. There was very little emotional payoff at the end, except relief that it was over.

Kate, Liz and Cassie meet for the first time in years, at the funeral of their close friend from their college days Anna, who leaves then train tickets, and one final mission, to see the lights in Palma, together with her daughter Maddie.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, way better than the score and number if reviews would suggest, it's sweet, it's amusing, it's uplifting, the acting is wonderful, they're all so natural.

Favourite scene had to be the pregnant lady, very funny and quite moving. I also enjoyed that moment in The French Fashion shop.

This features some exquisite location work, some beautiful places, and some well known sites too.

Blondie's music is terrific throughout, a real mix, some of the early stuff, and definitely some later recordings, you can hear how Harry's voice has changed.

I thought the cast were wonderful, I can't pick out a single performance, but there is no denying the comedy brilliance of Sally Phillips.

A great supporting cast, including Ben Miller and Judy Dench.

8/10.