23 Walks (Dave Johns, Alison Steadman)

(Amazon UK link)

Amazon recommends films to me, now and again, based on what I have previously bought and liked. One of them, towards the end of last year, was called ‘23 Walks’. I hadn’t heard of the film and knew nothing about either of the lead actors, but the storyline sounded good, and it was (mostly) very highly reviewed. So I put it on my wishlist, and was given it for Christmas.

Last night we decided to watch it. The idea is that two late middle-aged people gradually get to know each other over the course of 23 walks with dogs. The front of the DVD says it’s moving, relaxed, honest, complex and tender. The back says it’s a heartwarming comedy-drama. So I was expecting a lightweight but probably enjoyable film.

It starts slowly. Fern (Alison Steadman) has a small dog, and her first meeting with Dave (Dave Johns) and his large dog does not go well. She’s annoyed that Dave’s dog is not on a leash, and stalks past with her dog in her arms.

Over the course of the next few walks they start talking - rather stiltedly, but perhaps it’s realistic - and Fern realises that Dave’s dog is friendly and lovable, no danger to anyone. The two dogs become friendly, and their owners do too, albeit somewhat reluctantly. It’s all rather slow-moving; the scenery is pretty and the dogs are nice, but it was hard to see what Dave and Fern saw in each other, beyond the mutual dog-walking.

Dave tells Fern that he was widowed a couple of years earlier. Fern says her husband left her and is with someone else. So they’re both available… and while Fern is quite bruised and has no wish to enter into a romantic relationship, or anything more than a casual friendship, Dave is rather keener. They have some days out together, and Fern meets some of Dave’s family - he has two delightful grandchildren, although their mother Donna (Natalie Simpson) really doesn’t want her father seeing another woman…

There’s more, and in the second half of the film the story got going somewhat. Fern discovers something Dave has been keeping from her, and it looks like their friendship is at an end…

The film acknowledges some important issues, such as homelessness and the appalling condition of some council houses; the way some people can be too compliant, bossed around by family and friends; the difficulties inherent in looking after someone with dementia; the loneliness that single or widowed people can experience, particularly when their offspring live abroad. Other issues are lightly touched upon in what felt quite realistic ways.

But somehow… it never grabbed us. There isn’t any chemistry between the two principals, and the final (perhaps inevitable) scene is much too drawn out and, I felt, unnecessary to have shown at all. There’s some poignancy, but even one scene which should have been very sad failed to move us. The acting felt awkward; possibly deliberately, so as to reflect the difficulties of getting to know another person, and the script was a bit turgid. I’m not sure what happened to the walks, as they became incidental after the first handful.

So although it wasn’t a bad film, and the adjectives ‘relaxed’ and ‘honest’ could certainly apply, we didn’t find it at all moving, complex or tender. And we’re mystified as to why it was billed as comedic. There wasn’t anything remotely amusing about the majority of the film. We did smile at one moment when the dogs switched water bowls, and when there was an unexpected round of applause after an incident later in the film. But that was it. The storyline was essentially rather depressing with no real hope for the future.

The rating is 12 but there are some instances of ‘strong’ language, and a rather explicit scene towards the end, albeit mostly covered in a sheet. I think I’d have rated it 15. However I can’t imagine anyone under the age of about 40 being interested in this anyway.

No extras on the DVD, and overall I wouldn’t recommend it. But don't take my word for it - the film has some excellent ratings and is apparently very much appreciated by quite a significant audience.

Review copyright 2023 Sue's DVD Reviews