Peter Viney's Blog

Directed by Chris Foggin
Writer Piers Ashworth

2023
Netflix

CAST

Rory Kinnear – Dave Fishwick
Joel Fry – Hugh
Phoebe Dynevor – Alexandra, NHS doctor
Paul Kaye- Rick Purdey, ex rock manager
Hugh Bonneville- Sir Charles
Florence Hall- Meghan
Angus Wright – Clarence, Hugh’s boss
Cathy Tyson – Maureen
Drew Cain – prosecuting counsel

The definitive mild feel-good Netflix British film is such a contrast to Babylon the day before.

They now have a strong formula, and it works:

An initial screen says BASED ON A TRUE STORY … It’s a comedy. Warm-hearted middle-aged and very stubborn eccentric from the North of England takes on the establishment and wins (not entirely, but at least in a way). It requires an extremely good established lead actor, with at least one other major one as a supplement. A romance between minor characters is a bonus. The establishment must be Southern and pompous, preferably biased and corrupt. Beer is a great positive. It’s jollier up North, and importantly more democratic with a social conscience. The length should be between 90 and 110 minutes.

Trace it:

film	lead actor	Other major actor	Northern Location	Establishment
The Duke	Jim Broadbent	Helen Mirren	Newcastle upon Tyne	TV Licensing
Phantom of The Open	Mark Rylance	Sally Hawkins Rhys Ifans	Barrow-in-Furness	Golf
Bank of Dave	Rory Kinnear	Hugh Bonneville Joel Fry	Burnley	The banks

The titles here say BASED ON A TRUE(ISH) STORY, which is about right, Dave Fishwick was (and is) a self-made millionaire from Burnley, Lancs. He started out selling vans and minibuses, and being soft-hearted started lending money to people and supporting local Burnley businesses. He would like to lend more and start a bank – a corner shop bank, not a chain bank.

There has been no new bank registered in 150 years we are told. I doubt that is true – Citibank? Chase Manhatten? Santander? Maybe they class those as foreign banks moving in. Then there is HSBC taking over Midland, Lloyds and Trustee Savings Bank, RBS embracing NatWest which in turn was National Provincial + Westminster. Then what about all the online banks that sprouted up. OK, ‘True(ish).’

Let’s accept that. He employs a London legal firm to apply to the FSA (Financial Services Authority) to set up ‘Bank of Dave’. He knows they will say no, but wants them to say it out loud. Hugh (Joel Fry) is the London lawyer sent North, and he meets Alexandra (Phoebe Dynevor), an NHS Accident & Emergency doctor (who gives him an earful). Hugh is sent to ask Sir Charles (Hugh Bonneville), a would-be director of the Bank of England for advice. Shenanigans and dirty dealings by the established bankers soon put Dave in court. Hugh starts to feel attracted to warm beer, karaoke and hearty Lancashire breakfasts. Also to Alexandra.Then Dave has to find £12 million deposit, and Def Leppard are persuaded to do a concert at Burnley’s Turf Moor football stadium to raise funds. No more plot spoilers.

It’s funny. It’s chaste. Hugh finds himself sleeping on the sofa in flats with first Meghan, and then Alexandra, present and there is no sex whatsoever. Phoebe Dynevor is a perfectly cast female lead. She was in Bridgerton, and looks winningly attractive without the rampant sexuality of (e.g.) Margo Robbie in Babylon. She is a caring doctor, bent on establishing a free walk-in clinic. That rang bells- too many people come to the hospital A&E with minor ailments that could be treated more easily.

It ticks all the boxes in the formula, and is a thoroughly enjoyable streamed movie. No, I wouldn’t buy a DVD, but I’m glad I watched it.

The found music is good. Apart from Def Leppard they have Free’s Alright Now and Bob Marley’s No Woman No Cry. Rory Kinnear gets to do a song with Def Leppard which must have been fun.

LINKS ON THIS BLOG:

RORY KINNEAR

Peterloo (film)
Young Marx (play)
Othello, National Theatre, 2013 (Iago)
Hamlet, National Theatre, 2010 (Hamlet)
The Imitation Game (film) (Detective Nock)

HUGH BONNEVILLE

To Olivia (film)
Downton Abbey (film)
An Enemy of The People (play)
Paddington

PHOEBE DYNEVOR
Bridgerton (TV series)

JOEL FRY
Yesterday