No. 37 (2023) THE BANK OF DAVE. May. 15th.

 

Film No. 37  (2023)  May 15th.  6:30 PM  LUNA LEEDERVILLE,  Cine 1, Leederville.

 

"The financial regulation board hasn't approved a new bank in one hundred and fifty years. We've got Google up here too you know!" (Dave outlines the facts to Hugh on their first meeting).

NOMINATIONS: Nil (The most streamed film in The U.K. on Netflix in its first week of release).

Why let a good story get in the way of the truth? Why indeed. But then again, what does it matter? Dave Fishwick is a real guy with plenty of "balls" who became disillusioned with the U.K. banking system, so he decided to try and establish his own bank to give the people of Burnley, his home town, a fairer go when it came to borrowing money and creating opportunity to fulfil their dreams. And to a point, he has achieved his vision; to a point!

The real Dave Fishwick is, by all counts, a larger than life, charismatic, Lancastrian (Northerner). Roy Kinnear has captured just such a character here. Likeable, self effacing and not a dastardly bone in his body. The script doesn't give great insight into why this successful Owner/Manager decides to create a bank. We get a glossy introduction to Dave taking "the bit between his teeth" leading to Hugh (Joel Fry) becoming his legal representative. In many ways it becomes Fry's film, as gradually Hugh becomes the guiding light to making Dave's vision real. 

Feel-good, entertainment done effectively on the big screen is littered with failures. DAVE doesn't fail. Like Dave's bank idea, we invest with every scene. Fry and Phoebe Dynevor (Alexandra) have great chemistry as they explore innocent love. Angus Wright steals his scenes as Hugh's legal boss, Clarence. The mean and stuffy Sir Charles, the type of banker Dave despises is played wonderfully by Hugh Bonneville. Def Leopard even make an appearance as part of the film's climactic ending (the real Dave Fishwick worships Def Leopard).    

So if you loved FISHERMAN'S FRIENDS then Dave will be in your "wheelhouse". Director Chris Foggin and Piers Ashworth (Writer) team up once more to create DAVE; Netflix has provided "the bank" here. So, with Netflix money comes entertainment for the loungeroom. I was lucky enough to catch a cinema showing. Try to catch it on the big screen. It's a good, fun film full of likeable characters, excellent performances, and a beaut, cute romance thrown in. The story in the hands of one writer (Ashworth) gives more "meat on the bone' than FF. There's lots to like about DAVE.   8GUMS.