Happy Ever Afters

Stars: Sally Hawkins, Tom Riley, Jade Yourell, Ariyon Bakare

Director: Stephen Burke

On the back of a major personal success with Happy-Go-Lucky, and teamed with the promising Tom Riley, from the underrated I Want Candy, perky Sally Hawkins will want to forget this one in a hurry. A long, long comedy about two wedding receptions that end up in the same Irish hotel, this is so painful that it seems it will never end.

Single mom Maura (Hawkins) has agreed to marry Wilson (Bakare) to save her bacon on the mortgage, and save his being deported to his native Africa. Yep, he's paying her. Meanwhile Freddie (Riley) is getting hitched to his ex-wife Sophie (Yourell), in a union to which both have decided to give another try.

But when Maura and Freddie are twice caught in (innocent) compromising positioons. Sophie storms out and hits the town with three aggressive females she meets in a bar.

Deadeningly unfunny, the film is so clumsily directed as to constantly make you wish you were somewhere else. Try sleep: it will be more entertaining.

David Quinlan

Ireland/Germany 2009. UK Distributor: Verve. Colour.
104 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

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

Review date: 16 Mar 2010