Faintheart

Stars: Eddie Marsan, Jessica Hynes, Joseph Hamilton, Ewen Bremner, Paul Nicholls, Bronagh Gallagher, Tim Healy, Anne Reid, Chloe Hesar

Director: Vito Rossi

Trumpeted as the first user-generated feature film to be screened in the UK (MySpace users were able to audition for roles in the supporting cast), this is a mild, inoffensive little comedy centred on a mild, inoffensive little man (Marsan) whose obsession with Viking battle re-enactments has cost him his marriage to the gorgeous Cath (Hynes, formerly Jessica Stevenson) and is alienating him from his son (Hamilton), who is bullied at school and hacked off with dressing up in costume to support his dad.

Marsan's fellow Vikings are a motley crew of misfits led by Star Trek freak Julian (Bremner) who, in his late 30s, still lives with his mum (Reid). 'I've washed your jerkin,' she tells him, 'and your chain mail's hanging out to dry.'

Stuck in a menial job and forced to watch Cath move in with his son's macho PE teacher (EastEnders' Paul Nicholls), it doesn't look as though Eddie is set for a happy ending. But, this being a light-hearted caper, be sure that worms will turn...

Marsan's long hair and eye makeup are an annoyance, but it's all passably entertaining, even if it has a slightly amateurish feel - much like the Viking-Norse battles that Marsan and his mates re-enact.

David Quinlan

UK 2008. UK Distributor: Vertigo. Colour.
92 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 12A.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 1.

Review date: 20 Jan 2009