Falling for Figaro

For opera buffs this is a pleasure to watch and listen to. If you don't like opera then you will be disappointed as there is a lot of singing (and, after the first few lessons, pretty good singing too). The storyline is solid if mostly predictable though there is a good twist at the end.

As an opera buff, I was already halfway towards enjoying it anyway and it certainly is the ultimate "feelgood movie" and the ending was relatively predictable. However there is a delightful movie made more than 10 or 12 years ago called "the music teacher" it's French and the storyline is much the same! Indeed I began wondering to myself whether or not the writer and producers of this movie had in fact seen the music teacher which influence them to rewrite it and make a modern version . If you do a search on this database you will come up with a French version made in 1998 and it has the retired singer teaching 2 aspiring singers who are training for a singing competition. At the end there is a singing duel! I think overall the earlier French version is much more polished.

Great fun Nothing like real Opera in spite of well dubbed famous arias but a very enjoyable old fashioned good humoured film.

No one murdered ,no one beaten up ,no simulated sex ,and the most unlikely Don Giovanni ever but a welcome feel good film.

Wonderful Scottish scenery, straightforward plot, slightly stereotypical locals. Joanna Lumley is memorable if only for her dragged through a hedge look. I'm enjoying heroines who are not stereotypical in appearance and personality. A couple of twists along the way, not too predictable, beautiful music. Comfort food.

The goal of every movie should be to entertain. I was thoroughly entertained. Yes, some things were predictable but then there was a twist that made it seem more believable.

I loved Millie. I loved Max. I loved the banter with the bar keeper. Frankly, the only thing I found implausible is that she only had 2 suitcases to last her a year in the highlands.

This was perfectly cast. Who knew I loved opera? Apparently Ben Lewin knew.

And their voices were amazing. Who did that? The actors? I don't think so. It was a trick but a good one.