Fisherman's Friends

In this likeably old-fashioned, oh-so British comedy drama, a grizzled bunch of Cornish fishermen find themselves in line to land a recording deal to produce a CD of traditional sea shanties. Director Chris Foggin's second film after Kids in Love (2016) is based on a true story - the real-life singers are the first traditional folk act to have a top ten album - and stars James Purefoy as the fisher "king", Tuppence Middleton as his daughter and Daniel Mays as record-company executive Danny, who stumbles upon the a cappella group while down from London on a stag do and sees the potential for making a hit record. The film also stars Noel Clarke (as Danny's demanding boss) while Dave Johns (I, Daniel Blake) and David Hayman (Hope and Glory) are suitably salty as fellow band members in a film that unashamedly puts the corn into Cornwall. Indeed, watching Fisherman's Friends is like slipping on one of the singers' own thick-knit pullovers: warm and comforting. It's no Local Hero or The Full Monty, but it's just the ticket if you're in the mood for uplifting, undemanding entertainment.