Oh look, England have missed again

Chick flick which doesn't quite match Four Weddings And A Funeral.

Nigel Bell

A film of three thirds which gets bogged down in the middle but overall is another plus for the British comedy industry.

The Plot
Kate (MacDowell), Molly (Chancellor) and Janine (Staunton) are fortysomething women who meet every week to discuss who has the saddest life.

Men, who needs 'em?

Each has a good job - teacher, doctor and police officer respectively - and life revolves around jokes about the local vicar (Patterson) who fancies MacDowell, and Chancellor's many relationships.

But the cosy trios lives are shaken when MacDowell falls for the church organist - hence lines like "My organs at your service whenever you like."

She is blissfully happy with her toy-boy but her two friends think she's making a big mistake and embark on a campaign to break up the couple with tragic consequences.

The verdict
It's several months since Crush was first due to be released. Competition from Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings may have delayed its launch.

Shouldn't you be practising for Sunday?

Given it's looking to a female audience, coming out in the middle of the World Cup is probably a good move.

And it certainly deserves to be seen.

The first half especially has some great comic moments and MacDowell, Chancellor and Staunton bounce off each other really well.

The problem comes when Crush enters its "heavy" phase.

Suddenly the momentum it's built up is lost; it becomes too maudlin.

Oops, looks like we missed the sermon again

You question whether some characters would act the way they do and start crying, if not at the story development, then at the hope that the jokes from earlier will return.

Thankfully, they do in the last few moments so you at least leave the cinema gently lifted.

Flawed, but a film which will find a lot of fans in that fortysomething age bracket.