Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger

I didn't enjoy this as much as the original Bank of Dave. It just seemed rushed, no character or plot development, things just seemed to happen. The romance between the CAB guy (Amit Shah) and journalist (Chrissy Metz) just didn't ring true. The acting wasn't top notch despite the cast who have done far better in the past- the female lawyer (Leila Farzadi) and Rory Kinnear were the 2 standout performers, (having seen the real Dave Fishwick, Rory actually makes the guy seem likeable) the guy who played the mobster wasn't at all menacing or believable, and the NJ cop looked like a homeless guy just off skid row. For an investigative journo the American lady had no go in her! Having Def Leppard appear was always going to be a bonus, but their part of the story seemed shoe horned in, for no real reason. The Dave asleep in the DL equipment box scene was just cringe. It filled an evenings watching, but it could have been so much better.

Obviously these aren't meant to be high-end, high-budget films. There's a certain charm to the low production value and deliberate cheesiness of the Bank of Dave films; the same vibe as those 90s and 00s "guilty pleasure" romcoms...

My main fault is that Bank of Dave 2's cheesiness overlaps with lazy storytelling. Aside from an overly predictable romantic storyline, there are too many convenient "coincidences", and at times the plot verges on absurd...

E.g. Def Leppard are conveniently in the right place at the right time, and they help Dave out in quite an unconventional and unrealistic way...(!)(among other eyeroll-inducing coincidences in the plot)

That being said, it's a fun and easy watch overall, making it one to watch again at Christmas etc. I'd give it 6 stars, but since I'm from near "Burnleh" it makes the film funnier and more relatable... So I'll add another star and say 7 😉

Bank of Dave 2: The Lone Ranger is an unexpected sequel that actually finds a worthwhile story to tell and its greatest strength lies in putting the best aspect mostly front and centre this time. It's hindered by an extremely cliché romantic subplot and it seriously jumps the shark towards the end but it always remains entertaining, enhanced by the continued celebration of a genuinely kind and thoughtful person.

Rory Kinnear is easily the best thing about these thanks to his endlessly loveable presence and the increased screen time only improves his performance by giving him more to work with and his accent is faultless yet again. Chrissy Metz and Amit Shah do a good job making the weakest element work as well as it can since their budding romance is cute enough to almost warrant every diversion taken for it.

Returning director Chris Foggin brings a workmanlike quality to proceedings so it's all solidly constructed without anything in particular standing out. Generally, it's very blunt in what it's doing and a lot of the dialogue really lacks subtlety as it makes grand statements in the broadest and most generic fashion possible, especially when it comes to the songs implemented through karaoke.

Loved BOD1 but this is just terrible. The magic, the passion, the writing, the acting - none of it is there.

The story line is pathetic. The situations are unrealistic.

I don't yet know if BOD2 is also based on events or fiction but the whole thing smalls fake and the idea of throwing in the odd political barb doesn't work.

It would probably have worked a lot better as a Panorama documentary.

Why do we have to leave such long reviews. I've said what I need to and what folk need to hear, to offset the fake critics reviews which are just part of the marketing push.

Lastly, Burnley is not a brilliant place.

But try to enjoy this depressing drivel.

While Bank of Dave 2 delivers some enjoyable moments, it unfortunately lacks the heartfelt charm that made the original so special. The first movie resonated with its authenticity and underdog spirit, but this sequel falls short in capturing the same emotional depth.

The script feels overly simplistic, with dialogue that often comes across as contrived and far from believable. Key plot points feel rushed, and the characters-who were so relatable in the first installment-now seem one-dimensional, as if the writers relied on clichés rather than meaningful development.

It's an ok watch if you're already invested in the story, but if you're expecting the same heartfelt narrative and genuine spirit of the first Bank of Dave, you might find yourself a bit disappointed.