Military Wives

Directed by Peter Cattaneo, this movie sits in the category of feel-good comedies that display the strength in community spirit. Military Wives is akin to the likes of Calendar Girls and Unfinished Song. Equipped with that undeniable British charm, the movie is helped along by its central performances, as not only do Scott Thomas and Hogan impress, but their chemistry -- and initial lack of it -- works incredibly well on screen. Given the themes at play, it's advisable to take tissues to this one for it's a real tear-jerker. This is despite at times being conventional and predictable, with a structure that feels all too familiar.

While there's a tenderness to this story, the constant fear of death offers a profound undercurrent that enriches the story at hand. That said, it does feel rushed, and their rise from singing Don't You Want Me out of tune in a local town hall to suddenly being invited to major events feels too rapid. It's as though a whole chapter in a novel has been accidentally skipped. But these shortcomings are forgivable, as the singing sequences are engaging, and some of their renditions of songs we know and love are really rather catchy.