Rather a laborious lead-up to an exuberant and heart-warming finish. Not sure if this film could have stayed afloat, forgive the pun, without the unerringly deadpan Rob Brydon, as the accountant, together with the zany and energetic Jane Horrocks, as his wife. With their marriage under strain – she with her council commitments and potential extra-marital affair, her dis-spirited husband joins a men’s synchronised swimming group. Here, all “personal effects” are consigned to the lockers, once they enter the water – rather a clever conceit for concealing the backgrounds to the ill-assorted characters who make up the team. Gradually, (but too slowly for me), their characters are revealed, so we have an unlikely dentist (Adel Akittar), and the “wise old sage”, (Jim Carter); there is a “quiet chap”, and an adolescent small-time thief and his “carer”. Keeping them all together, is handsome Rupert Graves, playing an unhappy divorcee, who gets his girl in the end. The girl in this case, is the group’s poolside trainer, exuberantly played by Charlotte Riley. Well, we all need a bit of romance, especially this film, to relieve the boredom. I read that it was inspired by a documentary about a real team of synchronised swimmers, but inspirational, it was not, apart from a lot of clever under-water camera-work. I love Rob Brydon dearly, but, for films concerning water, perhaps he’s best left sticking with those jolly T.V. holiday commercials, where he sips cocktails on board a luxury cruise ship.

2019 kicks off with ’Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ at 7.30 pm on Tuesday, January 8, or why not book a pre-film supper at ’Fuchsias Cafe’ next to the De Valence? Further info. please visit films4tenby.co.uk

JH