CHALET GIRL
UK, 2011, 96 minutes. Colour.
Felicity Jones, Ed Westwick, Bill Nighy, Brooke Shields, Tamsin Egerton, Bill Bailey.
Directed by Phil Traill.
It was a bit of a shock to realise that this was a British film – having assumed it was American. It does sound like one of those American films about young people, a junior romantic comedy. In fact, it is very much like that in plot and types of characters. However, there is a bit more of British edge and some comic touches about it that puts it a notch or two above its US equivalents.
The film is also absolutely formulaic – or predictable (which sound a little less positive). But, the formula is tried and true: young girl from the wrong side of the tracks (actually, here from a working-class part of London) stuck in a dead-end, fast-food outlet job, but with a skill that is going to come in more than handy when a competition arises (skateboarding here which will translate into snowboarding), dead mother, old codger father (a sympathetic Bill Bailey), a chance for a job at a chalet in the Austrian Alps among the posh and snobbish, a romance with the son and heir, some deception, frustration, temptation to give up, a chance because of a generous gesture, victory, and having it all. Perhaps that spoils it by outlining the plot, but once it starts, that is what you would be expecting anyway.
Because Felicity Jones is a perky, common-sensed and interestingly attractive actress, we are on side right from the start. And, talk about product placement, not just the Tesco bags which do appear, but Austria itself. It looks beautiful, the mountains and snow glittering, the comfortable chalet, the chair lifts and the slopes – plenty of Austria and I wouldn’t be surprised if many in the audience decided that there they must go there and that they should take up skiing or snowboarding.
The leading man is Ed Westwick, one of those heartthrobs in the Robert Pattinson vein. He could actually pass for Robert Pattinson’s brother. His parents are played by Brooke Shields being haughty and mean and Bill Nighy being surprisingly ordinary and nice.
Our heroine makes some bad judgments despite her common sense, gets tangled in a relationship that she should have given far more thought to – but learning one’s lessons and finding true love, which means commitment, is what most romantic comedies are about.
1. Romantic comedy? Young characters? For young audiences? British, the rest of the world?
2. The London settings, realistic, poorer? The contrast with Austria, the snowfields, the chalet? Wealth, glamour? The world of sport?
3. The locations, the London home? The Austrian landscapes? The mountains? Comparisons between the two settings? Returning to Kim’s dad watching television? The musical score?
4. The introduction, the competitions, skateboarding, the television, the commentators, Kim and her career, her mother’s accident, the repercussions? The information about Kim, her life, but the preparation for displaying her skills later?
5. The possibility of the job, the interview, the snobbish attitudes, her father, needing her, her desire to go?
6. Kim as a character, strong-minded, her background, age, handling the interview, arriving at the snowfields, meeting Georgie? Georgie’s snobby attitudes? The room, sharing, their talk, expectations, the nature of the job, the details for the work?
7. Georgie, her background, her consideration of Kim, work, life, relationships, befriending Kim, changing?
8. The family arriving, wealthy, their manner, Richard and his being considerate, Caroline and her arrogance? Jonny, the son of the wealthy couple? Coming and going? Attention to Georgie, to Kim?
9. The details of life at the chalet, the preparation of the meals, the serving of the meals, the requirements, Kim and her work? Competent, accidents?
10. Meeting Mikki, his help, Kim and her abilities, getting used to the snowfields, the tobogganing, the build-up to the competition, her training?
11. The family, the return, Jonny and Chloe, fiancée, the guests, the dinners, social life? Jonny and his interest in Kim? The falling in love?
12. The engagement party, the build-up to the announcement, Jonny and his breaking with Chloe, her reaction? Caroline and her haughtiness, the friends? Chloe’s parents?
13. The build-up to the competition, the challenge, the initial failure, Mikki and his help, the champion stepping aside and giving Kim a place?
14. Kim’s dad, watching the competition on television? Kim, the opportunity, the place, the authorities, her winning?
15. Winning in the competition, Jonny and his return, in love? The ingredients of a romantic comedy?
