Starring Peter Riegert, Peter Capaldi, Burt Lancaster, Denis Lawson, Jenny Seagrove

(5-Okay Film)

Odd. Whimsical. Ponderous.

Quirky, slice of life movie about an American, Mac (Riegert), sent to a small town in Scotland on a business trip by his eccentric, oil tycoon boss (Lancaster). There, he meets a number of odd characters, and falls for their charming lifestyle. I was less charmed. It’s a small, quiet film, viewed by many as a gem, but I was never taken in by it. I found the whole thing and everyone in it to be nondescript. There’s no arc to the narrative, and though I’m all for originality, I can’t make myself care, when I don’t. There’s also no romance, no antagonist, no tension, and no surprises. I’m sure I missed the boat somewhere, but I was only too happy for the film to be over.

-Walter Tyrone Howard-

(190)