THEN CAME YOU
US, 2020, 97 minutes, Colour.
Craig Ferguson, Kathie Lee Gifford, Ford Kiernan, Phyllida Law, Brett James, Elizabeth Hurley.
Directed by Adriana Trigiani.
With a title like this (and a valid song with the same title at the end), this has to be a romantic comedy.
And, it is, but with a difference. The target audience for Then Came You is women of a certain age. And the central character is a woman of that same certain age, Annabelle, played by actress and television host, Kathie Lee Gifford, who also wrote the screenplay, obviously empathising with the experiences and feelings of this kind of woman of a certain age.
Not that the film is not entertaining and targeted also for men of a certain age. Actor and writer, Craig Ferguson, plays Howard, the owner of a mansion in Scotland, near Loch Lomond. He is a widower, living rather reclusively, but making rooms in the mansion available for tourists. Annabelle books in and leaves her home in Nantucket where she lived with her late husband, working in his hardware store, and sets out for a tour of the world, beginning in Scotland.
Perhaps it is a Scots characteristic, but Kathie Lee Gifford gives Howard quite a lot of antagonistic comments, especially concerning Americans, their rather extroverted attitudes and behaviour, different vocabulary (petrol and gas) and on which side of the road to drive. After Howard picks up Annabelle from the railway station, it is only a few moments of screen time before they are arguing, Howard running out of petrol, Annabelle irritatedly walking the rest of the way…
Obviously, we know how it is all going to end up, but the enjoyment of this kind of story is getting to know the characters, experience their cantankerousness, become more comfortable in their getting to know each other, an experience of some crisis or other, and…
One of the complications is that Howard has decided to marry an attractive business woman from London, and, with some glamour, she is played by Elizabeth Hurley. Clearly a match not made in heaven, even Howard’s son not wanting to come to the wedding.
But, it turns out there is a reason for Annabelle coming to Scotland, to this particular part of Scotland, which has a connection with her late husband and a family connection of Howard’s, an old lady played by Phyllida Law (in her late 80s). The other character on hand is Gavin (Ford Kiernan), a plumber, Howard’s good friend and handyman.
Annabelle is, as they say in America, quite feisty. Howard, a touch of the Scot dour manner, has feisty in him. So, we are treated to something of a low-key battle of the sexes, a sexual encounter which needs to be reflected on by the two, Annabelle wanting to go on her way, but, of course, finding her way back.
There are quite a number of songs throughout, and the credits indicate that they have been written by Kathie Lee Gifford herself, along with her writing partner and musician (who appears with her in the pub sequence singing a key song, Whiskey and Wine, which Howard in fact detests), Brett James.
One of those easy entertainments for a morning or matinee gathering at the local cinema with refreshments.
1. A romantic comedy for older audiences? Impactful women? Impact for men? The screenplay written by Kathie Lee Gifford, female director?
2. The Scottish settings, Loch Lomond, the mountains, the village, shops and clubs, cafes? The mansion, its interiors? The grounds? The musical score, the range of songs, the title song, Wine and Whiskey…?
3. Annabelle’s story, from Nantucket, widow, her husband’s ashes, in the chocolate box and Forest Gump, laminated, taking them everywhere? Selling the business, financially viable? Plan to travel the world? Contacting Scotland, booking the accommodation? An ordinary woman?
4. The travel, at the station, meeting Howard, the drive, the initial sparring, Scots criticism of Americans, out of petrol, her walking? Meeting Gavin? The room, settling in? The discussion with Howard about her husband, his ashes? Her life with him, missing him?
5. Howard, age, widower, not revealing his story to Annabelle? Scot? Critical? Relying on Gavin, plumbing, waiting at table…? Best friends? Howard and the cooking, doing all the work himself? The meals? Discussions with Annabelle? Her going fishing, the midges, falling in the water? The revelation of his plan to marry Clare, her intentions, wealth, redesigning? His son refusing to come to the wedding? Setting up the marquee and the plans for the wedding?
6. Annabelle, bike riding, shopping, spree? In town with Howard? The drink, the American waitress? Going to the club, urging Annabelle to sing? Howard leaving? Drunk? The bike riding?
7. Gavin, his character, the plumbing, working around the estate, friendship with Howard, advice? Friendship with Annabelle? His home life, rowdy – but his?
8. Clare, her visit, Elizabeth Hurley, the style, plans, wanting to eat out, the meal at home, Gavin and his offhand serving? The questioning Howard about Annabel? Howard breaking off the engagement, her leaving?
9. Annabelle, getting to know Howard? The attraction, the night together, the consequences? Her intending to go on to Italy? The crash into the sheep? Walking, at the station? With Gavin?
10. The train leaving, the empty seat? Howard, at home, by himself, Annabelle returning? His son visiting? The buildup to the wedding – Annabelle and her finances, the tree house and their future?
11. The impact for the older audience – any impact for a younger audience?
