Rousing drama fails to hit high notes

Military Wives 12A, 113 mins

Lightning fails to strike twice for Peter Cattaneo, Oscar-nominated director of The Full Monty, with another heart-warming comedy drama of community spirit in the face of adversity.

Inspired by true events, Military Wives celebrates the unshakeable sisterly solidarity of a motley crew of spouses who find friendship and emotional support by performing pop anthems and classical pieces while their service people are away.

The original choir appeared with Gareth Malone in BBC Two’s The Choir and claimed the 2011 Christmas number one with the ballad Wherever You Are.

A few choice facts are handpicked to serve the narrative, but the characters are fictional and short verses of cloying sentiment gradually build to a rousing crescendo that falls short of hitting the high notes of Cattaneo’s past glories.

When British troops are deployed to Afghanistan, experienced colonel Richard (Greg Wise) bids farewell to wife Kate (Kristin Scott Thomas). The couple are still grieving the loss of their serviceman son, so Richard’s absence weighs heavily on his wife.

Kate fills the void by taking charge of the women who have been left behind, stepping on the toes of social secretary Lisa (Sharon Horgan) and undermining tentative efforts to establish the base’s first choir.

Over time, however, the women unlock their potential and top brass extends the choir an invitation to perform at the televised Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.