FINDING HARMONY (MILITARY WIVES)

It's easy to see why 'Military Wives' was made.

Inspired by the 75 choirs of British Army wives and the hit BBC TV reality series 'The Choir,' the film offers an insight into what life is like for those left behind when their partners or children serve abroad.

The film also falls into that category of plucky underdog movies with an ensemble cast that British film audiences especially love like 'The Full Monty,' 'Brassed Off' and 'Calendar Girls'.

The director has form in this regard, having guided 'The Full Monty' to Oscar nominations and seen it mutate into a hit Broadway show.

'Military Wives' also features the kind of crowd pleasing humour that tends to go down very well with the grey pound.

So it was unfortunate, then, that when Peter Cattaneo's film hit British cinemas in March, it fell victim to the lockdown that closed all entertainment venues.

Like other movies impacted by the Covid-19 lockdown, Cattaneo's movie instead found itself migrating to digital platforms.

As a result, it's a lot harder to gauge just how successful it has been with audiences.

The film is, however, a steady as you go venture - opting for the comfortable rather than risking anything edgy.

And that probably suits its audience.

'Military Wives' begins with Kristin Scott Thomas' Kate, a colonel's wife arriving at the Army base which her husband, Greg Wise's Richard has been given command of.

Richard and his troops are about to be deployed in Afghanistan but the couple are also coming to terms with the death of their son on a tour of duty.

Sharon Horgan's Lisa works in the supermarket and post office on the base.

Her husband, Robbie Gee's Red is ready to head out to Afghanistan too and she is struggling to connect with her teenage daughter, India Amarteio's Frankie who whiles away the time drinking.

Kate is eager to find something that will keep the soldier's wives occupied while their husbands and partners are on their tour of duty.

At a brainstorming session with Lisa and Jason Flemyng's Army liaison, Crooks latches upon the idea of a choir.

However Kate and Lisa have radically different approaches to the project.

Kate is a traditionalist, insisting on the women singing scales.

Lisa is more relaxed, encouraging the women to just sing Yazoo's 'Only You' and Cyndi Lauper's 'Time After Time' for fun.

There's a bit of a power struggle at choir gatherings, with Kate often dismissing Lisa who resists her stiffer 'Onward, Christian Soldiers' approach.

However Lisa is popular with the wives.

After a shambolic start,  the choir somehow starts to come together and an invite to take part in the Festival of Remembrance at London's Royal Albert Hall on national television duly lands in their direction.

The choir is thrilled.

But will the women hold their nerve or be so daunted they fall apart?

'Military Wives' is another one of those dot to dot British movies.

An unapologetic underdog film, you can anticipate the story arc without it ever breaking a sweat - mapping out its highs, lows, its Eureka moments.

And that predictability is probably its greatest weakness.

While it is amiable entertainment, 'Military Wives' has little ambition.

Scott Thomas, Horgan and the rest of the cast do exactly what is required of them.

However it is solidly vanilla with no real zest or taste for adventure.

For that reason, 'Military Wives' is a disappointment because actors like Scott Thomas and Horgan are capable of so much more.

They are simply hampered by Rachel Tunnard and Rosanne Flynn's broad brush script and Cattaneo's just play it safe direction.

Both central characters are very simply defined.

Kate is the uptight, grieving military wife and mum.

Lisa is a slightly shambolic, wine guzzling, more likeable mum struggling to raised a bored, errant teenager.

There is little room for complexity but Horgan, in particular, suffers the most.

The mischief you expect of her because of her past performances never materialises because there's no mischief to be had.

Flemyng, Wise, Gee and Amarteio are solid enough in their supporting roles.

Gaby French has a brief moment to shine as the most talented singer in the choir, Jess but also the most self-conscious.

Lara Rossi arguably has the most effective supporting part as her polar opposite - the most tone deaf member of the choir and the most confident, Ruby.

Amy James Kelly dutifully delivers the very predictable story arc of the camp's newest Army wife, Sarah.

There's a Woody Allen/Richard Curtis style final act dash to the Royal Albert Hall.

And that is about as exciting as it gets.

While 'Military Wives' is competently made, it simply has no grit - even when it thinks it's being gritty.

Cattaneo's film is instantly forgettable,  only serving to remind us of how much funnier and edgier 'The Full Monty' was.

That film had a well constructed crescendo building up to its striptease.

'Military Wives', by way of comparison is a single note movie - earnestly delivered, safe as houses but dull nevertheless.

It's not a dreadful movie.

It just feels like it has lost any passion it might have once had.

('Military Wives' was released in the UK and Ireland on March 6, 2020 and made available on DVD on July 6, 2020)