Review: Military Wives
Friday, May 22, 2020 at 9:00AM by Chris Feil
Much of the newest film from The Full Monty director Peter Cattaneo, Military Wives, follows the mold of that effort that made him an Oscar nominee. It’s an emotionally effective ensemble portrait of blue collar Britain, with unseasoned performers finding a renewed sense of community through performance. Good times, neatly plotted setbacks, and reconciliation within family units are had by all. It even ends on an iconic disco track, but this time with even more charmingly awkward dancing.
However, Military Wives is more defined by its modesty than its showmanship, lovely and satisfying but without much in the way of complication or embellishment. Even as it follows the formula, it downplays much of its musicality and emotional grace notes when you expect it to soar. Comfort classic status is sadly averted due to its lower register, and yet it still fulfills most of what you crave in a film such as this.
The film is set in a semi-rural UK military base, beginning as the on-base spouses settle in to wait out another tour of duty in Afghanistan. As an alternative to their usual sullen wine gatherings, the commander’s wife Kate (Kristin Scott Thomas) decides to strongarm a choir into existence, much to the wives’ ambivalence. But with the help of the more approachable Lisa (Sharon Horgan) and a few of everyone’s favorite retro tunes, the choir finds hidden talents that motivate them towards becoming a fully formed team. Quickly, a chance to perform at Royal Albert Hall arises - and threatens the group’s stability by heightening their grief and insecurities.
Though Military Wives’ lack of ambition suffers most from underdeveloping and not distinguishing the supporting characters of the choir, it does achieve a compelling wrestle of wits between its two leads. Kate leads with stuffiness and Lisa is more effectively flexibile. Kate’s rank and demeanor plays like an unspoken class divide, with her personal arc (beautifully performed by Scott Thomas) revealed as one of learning to trust and be vulnerable. Meanwhile Lisa’s ease with understanding her peers is at odds with a communication breakdown with her teenage daughter Frankie (India Ria Amarteifio). Their stories feel complementary and uncommon, even among film’s like this, and its one of the elements where the film’s downplaying works beautifully.
But the result of the film’s staidness is Sister Act minus Vegas, literally and figuratively. Military Wives lacks a little panache, a little sense of self-awareness that it is in fact a musical. Even as it relies heavily on that standard structure of musical underdog movies, its musical sequences largely keep the musical heights on the mild side. It’s no fault of screenwriters Rosanne Flynn and Rachel Tunnard (inspired by the UK reality series The Choir), who pack the film thoughtfully with musical reimaginings of the likes of Cyndi Lauper, Tears for Fears, and Yaz (the film’s one musical miracle being that it makes you forget that “Only You” has been in a million other movies). You just wish that Cattaneo and the film would let these characters give us a showstopper.
Grade: B-
Military Wives is now available on Hulu and VOD!
Reader Comments (5)
This opened the week before cinemas closed in Australia. Frustratingly, they haven't released it to home viewing yet, after nearly three months, but are waiting to re-release it when cinemas reopen. Even though the target audience will probably be the last to return to theatres. This seems like perfect at-home viewing to me and a wasted opportunity.
It's such a lovely film. Yes, it's a feel-good movie but you are at least given characters you care about as I love that family and I love how the film ended.
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