Then Came You (2020) – Movie Review
14th June 2021 Written by Peter Walkden
Annabelle (Kathie Lee Gifford) is a widow. Sick of living alone and in the past, she decides to pack her bags and go on a trip unlike any she has taken before. She packs her husband’s ashes in an empty box of chocolates and makes her first stop in Scotland. Annabelle and her husband were huge lovers of all things relating to films, and she has decided to visit various places featured in some of their all-time favourite films.
When she arrives in Scotland, she is greeted by the hotel’s owner, Howard (Craig Ferguson). Upon meeting Howard, Annabelle is quite surprised by his mannerisms, witty and somewhat crude sense of humour, and various one-liners. However, her drive to the hotel is brief as Howard’s car runs out of gas, and Annabelle decides to walk the rest of the way instead. Annabelle’s first impression of Howard is not a good one.
But while Annabelle is staying at the hotel, she learns more about the history of the old mansion along with learning more about its current owner, Howard. Because the hotel is currently empty with only one tenant, the two begin to speak daily and soon form an unlikely new friendship. But while the two are having fun talking and sightseeing around Scotland, there is just one problem- Howard is engaged to a woman named Clare (Elizabeth Hurley). The wedding venue is the same hotel Annabelle is staying at! To top it off, the date for the wedding is coming up just around the corner.
Then Came You is a fun, light-hearted comedy filled with random moments and one-liners delivered perfectly by actor Craig Ferguson. As a plot, it’s all quite nice and straightforward. The pacing throughout the first and second act is pleasing, and I found myself having a great time with these characters and each situation they found themselves in. The film also managed to make me laugh multiple times.
Performances are fun. I enjoyed Craig Ferguson as the male lead, and it is this actor who delivers most of the laughs. Actress Kathie Lee Gifford brings a lovely presence to the screen, but I cannot deny there was a moment where I found her character ever so slightly fickle. Elizabeth Hurley fans may also be disappointed to see the actress is only present on-screen rather briefly. Ford Kiernan, who plays Howard’s right-hand man running the hotel, also delivers some memorable moments and well-timed humour.
While the film delivers a heartfelt journey of two lost people, the story dramatically changes for the worse in its third and final act, almost to the point it felt like I was watching a different movie. The characters I enjoyed, and the excellent pacing disappear in moments as it ventures toward the credits. While some viewers may still find the ending and final moments pleasurable, the film failed to land its finish with a bang for me. It almost felt like the movie was unsure where it wanted to take our leads towards the end, including what feels like two climaxes.
Overall, for the most part, I had a wonderful time watching this rom-com, and I found myself having a good laugh at several moments. It is a light-hearted story, and the pacing, for the most part, is also great, but it is a disappointment to see the film fail to land the third act. This act certainly feels out of place and weaker than everything the movie was building towards. Those seeking a rom-com filled with pleasant moments and a solid touch of comedy should undoubtedly check this film out.
5.9/10
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