PLOT- Set in England during WW2, Their Finest, is the story of Catrin Cole (Gemma Arterton) a former secretary hired to work as a screenwriter for war propaganda films. She must prove her skills while trying to appease difficult actors, grumpy male colleagues, and worst of all, the government, who has very specific ideas for what the films should include.
LIKE- I went to watch Their Finest without having seen a trailer or reading a single review. I knew that it was set during WW2, but other than that, I didn't know what type of film I was about to watch. Their Finest, is a sentimental romantic comedy with a bit of drama: you can't exactly set a film in London during The Blitz without having some drama. There is a gut wrenching scene where Catrin narrowly escapes being killed in a bombing and must walk over dead bodies in the streets of London. A main theme of the film is to live for the present, as you never know what the future holds.
Their Finest has a lot of foreshadowing, which makes it predictable. However, even with knowing how it is going to play out, the story still maintains a charm. For example, Catrin falls in love with fellow writer, Tom (Sam Claflin), and the way that their love story ends, is clearly foreshadowed, but when it happens, it is done in a way that feels like it was always written in the stars, making it sentimental and necessary.
Catrin is a strong protagonist, a woman succeeding against the odds in a male driven profession. She's smart and quick witted. She doesn't suffer fools and she doesn't hesitate to chase her dreams. She manages to pass the torch by writing strong female characters into her films. I've liked Arterton in other movies, and in Their Finest, she shines.
Speaking of the cast: I didn't recognize Claflin as Arterton's love interest. The character is a little bit dorky, but underneath that hides sexy Finnick O'Dair from The Hunger Games franchise! Crazy! Personally, I thought this role was much more attractive: A talented writer pining for an unavailable woman. It's heartbreaking. Bill Nighy is his usually hilarious, quirky character, as Ambrose Hilliard, the star of their war film.
I liked how the movie that they are making, creates a story within a story, providing a lot of the comedy.
DISLIKE- Nothing, Their Finest is throughly enjoyable.
RECOMMEND- Yes. Their Finest is a good pick, if you like British romantic comedies and are looking for a film that will make your heart happy. Make sure to have tissue handy for the tear-jerker moments. It didn't manage to make me cry, but the woman in the theater in front of me was sobbing.