FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS The ticket

MUSICAL TALE IS QUITE A CATCH

A TRUE-LIFE story of musical success against the odds inspires director Chris Foggin’s feelgood fish-out-of-water drama comedy. Fisherman’s Friends takes considerable artistic licence with the remarkable rise of eight men from Port Isaac in Cornwall, who signed a record deal in 2010 and became the first traditional folk act to land a top 10 album in the UK charts. The group later performed for the Queen at the 2012 Jubilee celebrations and brought their haunting sea shanties to the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. The men continue to raise funds for charity and released a fourth collection of bawdy songs last year, punningly titled Sole Mates. Foggin’s film trawls for the essence of the crabs-to-riches fairy tale and delivers a decent haul of laughter and sentiment, interspersed with foot-stomping musical performances.

London-based music executive Danny (Daniel Mays) heads to Cornwall on a boozy stag weekend with his boss Troy (Noel Clarke), colleague Driss (Vahid Gold) and boorish groom-to-be Henry (Christian Brassington).

Their drunken antics on paddle boards lead to a lifeboat rescue manned by local fisherman Jim ( James Purefoy) and pals.

During their time in Port Isaac, the stag party witness locals singing sea shanties in the harbour and Troy jokingly suggests Danny should offer the swarthy fishermen a record deal because their repertoire is “copyright-free songs”.

Danny falls hook, line and sinker for Troy’s prank and records Jim, Jago (David Hayman), Rowan (Sam Swainsbury), Leadville (Dave Johns) and the rest of the group in a local church, where acoustics are perfect.

Danny also nurtures a crush on Jim’s daughter Alwyn (Tuppence Middleton).

When the time comes to court record labels, the fishermen don sunglasses to resemble “Reservoir Sea Dogs” and accompany Danny to the bright lights of London.

Fisherman’s Friends hauls up a familiar catch of friendship, betrayal and redemption, shot on location in picturesque Cornwall.