Swimming with Men (2018)

Going to get some presents in Birmingham for an upcoming birthday,I decided to treat myself to a visit to the oldest cinema in the UK (The Electric.) Being lucky the last two times in catching strong indie flicks, (Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool and You Were Never Really Here)I was happy to find that along with Abba-themed cocktails, an indie Comedy I've heard nothing about was screening,which led to me dipping into the pool.View on the film:Stripping the outline of The Full Monty for this adaptation of the real life Swedish Men's Synchronised Swimming team winning the World Championships, (they cameo in the movie)the screenplay by Aschlin Ditta dives into the unique "winning" status some British teams gain,where they trip at the final hurdle, but are treated like champions. Drawing British Sit-Com thumb-nail sketches of the team, Ditta spins an easy-going Comedy atmosphere linking the sports genre bonding of the team,with Scott finding fulfilment in the team work.Closing in on Scott's loneliness with stark close-ups, director Oliver Parker & cinematographer David Raedeker bring light to his life with colourful edits linked between each swim,and stylish underwater camera moves,which allows for the formation of each impressive synchronised move to be viewed. Holding the team together as his personal life goes out to sea, Rob Brydon gives a warm performance as Scott,with Brydon's breezy comedic skills making a splash, as Scott begins to swim with men.

'Swimming With Men (2018)' isn't really all that funny and makes a number of missteps, mostly relating to the validity of its central 'struggle' and its overall resolution regarding everything other than its eponymous activity. These issues add to a general sense of banality, that is in itself only really reduced by the initial 'uniqueness' of the central conceit - one that soon becomes a very standard 'home away from home', self-discovery sort of scenario. There's also overall likability that makes even the most uninspired of moments seem somewhat worthy of watching (if only to give them the benefit of the doubt). The movie is never bad but it is never particularly good either, finding its footing as a suitably floaty and often pleasingly pleasant picture that fails to really drag you into the depths it simply doesn't have. It manages to usually be fairly enjoyable while it gives you glimpses of something just under the surface, though, something that adds this slight air of authenticity to its mostly realistic characters and mid-life crisis narrative. It's one that is pretty sad, almost dark, at its heart and ostensibly only uplifting because films of this kind essentially have to be (almost to the detriment of believability, in this case). However, I didn't expect much more and so I wasn't disappointed. 5/10

This is definitely a mainstream film with its eyes firmly on the box office... and there is nothing wrong with that!! It is to some extent comedy by numbers and you mayfeel manipulated and as if you have seen something similar before... however Aschlin Ditta does give the story some updated twists not least using synchronised swimming as the subject. This is reliable entertainment and there are a number of laugh out loud moments.The director Oliver Parker is a safe pair of hands and does bring some freshness and originality to the production. Great interaction between the actors especially Brydon, Mays,Graves, Carter,Akhar and Turgoose... although both Horrocks and Riley are wasted.There is a serious message in there about male loneliness and support but I would just go along and enjoy. A feelgood movie that should do well !

Just been to the Premiere of this movie in Edinburgh. Went with deeply sceptical friend who was laughing out loud from about 15mins in. Great actors just having a ball with a really good script and lots of laughs.