Sweetheart

Stars: Nell Barlow, Ella-Rae Smith, Jo Hartley, Sophia Di Martino, Tabitha Byron, Samuel Anderson

Director: Marley Morrison

A watchable sort-of-romcom that centres on AJ (Barlow), a permanently grumpy, not particularly likeable 17-year-old Lesbian reluctantly on a campervan site holiday with her mother Tina (Hartley), pregnant sister Lucy (Di Martino) and younger sister, the somewhat overweight Dayna (Byron).

Tina, who has just split from her boozing husband, has accepted her middle daughter's sexuality, but that doesn't bring a smile in place of the ever-present scowl to AJ's face, hidden as it is by rose-coloured specs, a pulled-down hat and tightly bobbed hair.

AJ's holiday from hell, however, assumes a different complexion when she develops a crush at first sight on bisexual lifeguard Isla (Smith).

The script consequently contrives a tempestuous on-off relationship, while's Mum's patience with her moody daughter snaps when AJ, exasperated by Isla's bedding a male friend, gets very drunk and staggers home to be sick everywhere.

Some cliched dialogue at the start improves as the film goes on, even if it never really hits its emotional targets. Barlow is well in character as the ever-sulking AJ, but not as good as Hartley as the frazzled mum: the standard of acting in this type of role has certainly gone up as the years have rolled by.

There is no copyright date on this film.

David Quinlan

UK 2021. UK Distributor: Peccadillo Pictures. Technicolor.
102 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

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

Review date: 22 Sep 2021