FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS: A Beautiful And Melodic Tale Of Friendship

Fisherman’s Friends is an engaging and heartfelt comedy exploring the musical journey of fishermen and friends. The focus on friendship and fame works well to build a calm and inviting experience that will be remembered within the genre of true story comedies.

The film eagerly invites its audience in and provides a worthwhile, heartwarming story that will have you humming along and keeping that musical spirit hours after it’s over.

Truth in Comedy

Fisherman’s Friends utilizes the most enticing aspects of its true story to craft a film that expertly blends very different, yet complimentary journeys.

Danny (Daniel Mays) begins the film as a member of a group of rich, but unfulfilled music executives. Throughout his journey to sign a group of Cornish fishermen to a record deal, Danny finds his own reason to grow and develop into a better version of himself. By staying behind in Port Isaac, when the rest of his music executive friends leave him behind, Danny develops a close bond with the town, and especially with Alwyn, played wonderfully by Tuppence Middleton.

The romance develops at a natural pace, and showcases how this unlikely relationship makes sense. From two very different backgrounds, Alwyn and Danny both share a passion for music, and fall closer together listening to records and dancing throughout the night.

The titular fishermen are all given their own unique personalities while maintaining a cohesive and memorable story that is both inspiring and humorous. The film establishes well-developed and likable characters through its beautiful journey into this small, tight-knit community.

Every member of the central sea shanty band has their own problems, and these plot-lines work together to create a well-paced film that never overstays its welcome. Fisherman’s Friends does a great job balancing moments dealing with the issues of the recording industry with more small-town concerns surrounding struggling businesses and maintaining important relationships.

Jim (James Purefoy) and Jago (David Hayman) stand out within the ten-member band, but every member has their own importance and unique personality within the film. These two performances are especially memorable within a film filled with characters that make you want to be one of their friends.

Musical Moments

The heart of Fisherman’s Friends lies in its music, and rightfully so. The moments of music performed throughout the film draw you into this unique and remarkable world.

These songs, performed in a variety of settings from boats, wedding receptions, to crowded London pubs, all capture a different, yet equally important aspect of the characters and their stories. Having the pleasure of hearing beautiful and sometimes lewd sea shanties gives you a realistic glimpse into the world of small-town fishermen.

While watching this film, I felt transported to another world and couldn’t stop myself from smiling and nodding my head along to the music, wishing the best for each and every member of this ten-men “Buoy Band” – a term used to define the group in a headline.

The moments of music shown within the film build character, while also providing an insight into this very specific and deeply interesting genre of music. The moments chosen to fill along with the sounds of the sea help develop the story and relationships between every band member.

Secondary Characters

One of the aspects of Fisherman’s Friends that doesn’t sit quite as well is the portrayals and writing behind its secondary characters, especially Danny’s co-workers. On the one hand, they set us up for our departure from this group, and the willingness to follow the best of the bunch on their own journeys. These moments show us what Danny leaves behind, and how he is better off without the superficial lives of the people he once called friends.

But on the other, these secondary characters are written in such a negative light, you have a hard time believing that someone like Danny who accepts these small-town lives could have been friends with such self-centered people.

This aspect of the film briefly turned me off, but in the end, the performances work to further distance Danny from this lifestyle of which he used to be so connected. By creating and performing these characters in a way that makes the audience want Danny to get as far away from them as possible, we focus on both his personal growth as well as the professional growth of the band.

Conclusion: Fisherman’s Friends

Fisherman’s Friends is a heartfelt film with moments of peace, comedy, and musical joy. James Purefoy and Daniel Mays stand out as characters of vastly different lifestyles. Fisherman’s Friends is a beautiful film with memorable musical moments, which help build the heartwarming journeys of each and every character.

Does Fisherman’s Friends sound like an interesting true story to explore in a film? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Fisherman’s Friends is available now on DVD/Blu-ray, and will be on Demand and Digital July 24, 2020.

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