Neither expects to find the once beautiful villa in such a state of disrepair… Renovations go badly, with father and son soon finding themselves at odds. Robert’s comical lack of DIY experience leads him to seek help from some colourful locals including the no nonsense Kate (Lindsay Duncan), an ex-pat making her living selling villas who quickly captures his attention. For Jack, the state of the house seems to mirror his search for memories of happier times with his mother.

He soon falls for Natalia (Valeria Bilello), a vivacious young Italian chef, who restores both body and soul with delights from her local trattoria – until the pair find their developing relationship in jeopardy from Natalia’s jealous and threatening ex-husband.

As Robert and Jack painstakingly restore the villa to its previous glory, they also start to mend their relationship. The future may now look quite different and surprise them both.

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Liam Neeson (a snow ploughman this time) continues his on-screen proclivity to lose or misplace family members and when his only son is killed, he goes on a murderous rampage of revenge. This premise is used as a set up for some very sick laughs.

At first the ultra violence is a bit off-putting but you soon throw off those limitations and laugh at all the wrong moments. There are some quite clever running gags and visual jokes that illicit consistent laughs.

The plot is slight with this murder porn comedy but little is needed to stitch together its moving parts. It’s all been done before but seldom with such a gleeful disregard for convention. The film provides a surprisingly high level of entertainment, guilty pleasure or not.

Rob Hudson
www.coldpursuitmovie.com.au