Honeymooner

What a lovely treasure of a film this is. Exploring the bromance between 3 male friends in the modern confusing and metrosexual world. One who is lovelorn having been rejected by his fiancée just before they should have married whilst the other two are seemingly the reverse. The evolving relationships between not only the men, but the women that are woven into their lives are handled beautifully and sensitively. The script is subtle and simple with much left unsaid, Fran's interactions with Celine are marvelous in their very awkwardness. A great cast and wonderfully filmed locations too. me a slow burner that has left me wondering what happened next, a sure sign of a story well told.

Fran (Gerard Kearns) thought he was heading for happiness. He could offer his fiancée love and a two bedroom flat in Kentish Town but she dumped him a month before the wedding. Although Fran might have had hopes she might see sense and come back to him he bumps into her with a new boyfriend.

He seeks solace with his friends who try to fix him up with other women but Fran is recovering from a broken heart.

This is a low budget independent film which is only about 70 minutes long. I like the idea of male centred film dealing with issues of a man being dumped and he is not cynical, bitter or angry about it rather just a little bit lost and forlorn.

Its gentle, not very funny although the fact that other women falling for him seemed a little hard to take.

Fran should be newly-wed and on his honeymoon. Dumped by his fiancé a few weeks ago, instead he finds himself outside the comfort and excitement of a prospective marriage, and in a world peopled by predatory neighbours, the new boyfriend of his ex, potential dates, and (more-or-less) useless/helpful mates. On the one side there's Jon who seems in a worse state than Fran himself. Al Weaver plays the role with huge natural energy and impressive poise between comedy and despair. On the other side there's Ben (Chris Coghill) who is the more archetypal lad. The film is a well-observed look at the relationships and predicaments of a generation of people who are marrying later and a generation of men brought up to be more sensitive and struggling with that proposition. When Seema (Wunmi Mosaku), Fran's school-boy crush, turns up, unexpectedly, a delicate charm and grace is injected into Fran's world and the beginnings of a new romance seem to emerge. This is a charming and sensitive treatment of the question: what to do do when my expectations and plans for life suddenly evaporate? There are some especially lovely shots that turn the ordinary environment in something to savour and some elegant performances. And great soundtrack to boot.

This film is a genuine discovery, a little gem of a film. Playing something like a British take on the American Indie film Honeymooner mixes belly laughs with genuine emotion and heart. I was particularly impressed by Col Spector's strong grip on tone, the film avoiding the high gloss of Hollywood in place of an honest low budget simplicity which really draws you into what is an understated but surprisingly engaging character driven story.

The performances are strong across the board, Gerard Kearns and Chris Coghill shining in particular. I saw the film at the Cuculorous Film Festival and people were literally falling off their seats laughing. It's a real compliment to the director that Honeymooner's moments of sadness also hit home. I really hope the film gets a deserved UK cinema release. Thoroughly recommended!

I have to say I haven't been so pleasantly surprised by a film for some time. Spector's comedy is refreshing and his keen eye for observation elicits some truly funny scenes. The laughometer was needed to record three proper belly wobblers, a couple of snorts and plenty of sniggers. All of this from a movie which only lasts 75 minutes. The script is so fresh because it looks at relationships through the eyes of a jilted bloke, rather than the dozens which stare through the mascara stains. It kicks off with our hero, Fran, lying on his own in bed on what was meant to be his wedding day. We follow him for the next two weeks when he should have been on his honeymoon. During that time his two rather flighty best mates attempt to drag him out of his pit of misery by pushing girls, alcohol or even yoga in his direction. Indeed, Fran has several chances to find a temporary solution to his situation with several rather attractive females throwing themselves at him but he is not convinced of a quick-fix answer, unlike his friends who are desperate to bed anyone in a skirt, despite being both involved in long-term relationships. The film belongs to Gerard Kearns (Ian Gallagher in Shameless) who, as Fran, is endearing yet not wet, thanks to an earnest or even, at times, deadpan delivery. Spector's writing is also a triumph. Fran is like so many 20-something blokes - misunderstood, awkward and lacking in confidence. The very people who would scorn the idea that it is always women who get the rough end of relationship break-ups. Spector says that he was interested in how the nice guys who offer security get dumped and the bits of rough don't. It's a line which will find much sympathy.

He has also done a masterful job of packing such a good movie into just 17 days of filming. Both Mrs W and myself gave it a big smiley face and a splendid 8/10. Go along and see it...it's a bromance which will please lads and lasses.