Off the Rails

There’s nothing very exceptional about this minor affair, which is blandly directed by Jules Williamson. The film is dedicated to Preston, who died soon after it was completed.

It’s predictable but cheery. Phillips, an assured feel-good performer best remembered for the advice she dispensed as Shazza in Bridget Jones’s Diary and its sequels, is responsible for most of the laughs.

Temporarily recapturing one's youthful spirit while simultaneously accepting and embracing middle age has rarely felt this staid.

This comes in, alas, at the flatter, B-side end of the spectrum, even if its heart is in the right place and all the other things you say when a film doesn't deserve a kicking. But you can't really say it's any good.

Bickering middle-aged women obsessing over travel arrangements is not entertainment, it's a living hell.

With its Mediterranean locations, themed soundtrack and middle-age nostalgia, this comedy drama is forlornly chasing the Mamma Mia! dollar.

Not all films have to be life changing. Some can just make you smile and feel good.

Wastes not only the talented cast but, more importantly, our valuable time.

Given the pleasant scenery, cameos by Judi Dench and Franco Nero, and Blondie songs peppering the soundtrack, it's a shame this earnest comedy of middle-aged misadventures is so predictable and uninspired.

Improbable, fun and fun comic performances, with bittersweet moments, make this a comfy watch.