Movie Review
Not even Emma Thompson’s full frontal spells luck for ‘Leo Grande’
63-year-old Thompson goes further than most actresses her age for her craft but this tender film doesn't quite reach the expected climax
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Yes, it’s about time the movies recognised that “older people do bonk” and desire pleasure in the bedroom, but there’s something a little too comfortably neat about the film’s narrative and character arcs that prevent it from exploring the darker, messier realities of its premise. It keep firmly within the realms of recent British drama, which tends to prod at uncomfortable social taboos in a polite and light-humoured way, avoiding too much embarrassment. Even the sex scenes and the much talked about full frontal Thompson moment at the end are ultimately like the film itself, a little on the sweet side and not adding much substance.
At a time when mainstream cinema has become increasingly sex averse, it’s still refreshing to see a film attempting to move the representation of the one thing we can’t stop talking and thinking about, and doing, forward, even if it is with baby steps. Like the encounter at its heart, Good Luck To You, Leo Grande could have been a lot worse than it is, but it also could have been better if it had gone in search of a bigger, longer, more memorable “Oh”.
• ‘Good Luck To You, Leo Grande’ is on circuit.