Review by Lisa Payne
Military Wives is inspired by true stories of the Military Wives Choirs. It is exactly what you’d expect it to be.
Husbands away at war, and the wives need other things to do to take their minds off the stress of worrying. (Lisa) Sharon Horgan is charged by the rank of her husband to come up with ideas. Kate (Kristin Scott Thomas) is the Colonel’s (Greg Wise) wife who has other ideas. Her son was killed during the last tour. Kate, who is the epitome of stoic, finds solace buying things from an online shopping channel because she thinks she must be strong for everyone else.
One of the ideas is a singing club as Lisa calls it. Kate and Lisa’s ideas of this differ wildly. They are basically the odd couple who have to work together for the morale of the wives. Bumping up against each other constantly takes its toll on each of them.
The singing club finally hits its stride after loads of bad singing, plus the star who shines through. A visiting Brigadier hears the women practicing and invites them to sing at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.
A couple of subplots, Lisa’s teenage daughter is a tear-away, and Lisa is having trouble relating to her. One of the husbands dies in combat, and this brings the women closer together.
Pent up anger means Lisa and Kate have a huge bust up, then come back together.
The real Military Wives had a UK number one chart single with “Wherever You Are” in 2011, following a campaign to get it to number one and ensure another dross single from X Factor didn’t own the Christmas number one.
This is a direct by numbers feel good film. What elevated it is the performances of Sharon Horgan and Kristin Scott Thomas.
