Falling for Figaro

Millie is a well paid fund manager in London. She leaves the job, leaves her boyfriend and goes to the north of Scotland to take lessons from a retired, ill tempered opera singer and prepare for a competition. Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop has not pleased anyone in years. There is another student in the house: Max, who has been preparing for the same competition for a decade. Ben Lewin directs. Danielle Macdonald plays Millie, Joanna Lumley plays Meghan, Hugh Skinner plays Max. The best thing about it is that Macdonald sings herself. She trained in opera for the part and most of the singing is hers, which is not common in films of this kind. The narrative applies the romantic comedy template exactly: escape from the city, a country pub, a difficult teacher, a rival love, a final competition. It makes no attempt to leave the shape. Joanna Lumley's teacher is the most enjoyable element; the character's entire function is to wound her students and be right while doing it. It was shot in the north of Scotland, and the landscape is one of its selling points. Who it is for: viewers who like light romantic comedy and films about opera. Who it is not for: the story is entirely predictable and the characters are types. Outside the music there are no surprises.