Review of Papadopoulos & Sons (2012) by Stuart M — 15 Nov 2014

An enjoyable film, but not one that really leaves much of an impression. The highlight of the film is the view it takes of the immigrant experience in England, which it handles in a low key manner as if there's nothing at all unusual in it. Because there isn't. Stephen Dillane is entertaining in the lead, even if it's obvious what narrative arc he's going to follow. He's the businessman out of touch with his emotions who needs the somewhat more anarchic spirit that his estranged brother has in order to loosen up. His brother is a fun character played in a Zorba the Greeky way as cheerful but a bit irresponsible. The two of them together are fun, as is the rest of his family who all feel like defined characters rather than just being along for the ride.

The real problem is that the film doesn't really know where it wants to go, apart from the obvious recovering his humanity angle. The finance plot either drags endlessly or advances instantaneously with no real in between. This becomes most apparent when the film seems to realize there are only twenty minutes or so left in the story and it needs to find a way to wrap up all the loose ends, which it does in a very rushed and sloppy manner. Character moments show up for no reason and it attempts to mine for pathos in the oldest independent trick in the book by adding an unexpected death to bring narrative closure. The fact that the majority of the film doesn't really need a plot is all that saves it. The little vignettes of their lives are fun to watch and that is what people will enjoy about the film.