fisherman's friends: one and all
starring: james purefoy, sam swainsbury, dave johns, and richard hainsworth
​
REVIEWER: nick tonkin
Following the success of their first album, the Fisherman's Friends struggle to adjust to their new-found fame and work towards a second album.
Fisherman's Friends: One and All was directed and co-written by Nick Moorcroft and Meg Leonard and is the sequel to the 2019 film, of which the directors also co-wrote. The sequel sees a return to Port Isaac where Jim (James Purefoy) is struggling with the loss of his father, and the band the loss of their tenor.
At the urging of their label the band hold auditions for a new member, eventually settling on the surprisingly good candidate Morgan (Richard Harrington), who fits with their humble working men image by being just that, while also having the vocal chops for the role. However, Jim decides to make Morgan the bearer of all his frustrations and burdens, jeopardising the band’s comeback and their golden opportunity to play at the Glastonbury Festival.
Fisherman's Friends: One and All is a good natured film that one might get the slight feeling like they’ve seen it all before. The writers utilise tried and true story beats in developing their characters but credit to the core cast who make the most of it, with performances that will have you feeling their burdens and cheering their successes - which is precisely the goal of a film like Fisherman's Friends: One and All.
On that note, the film is a pleasant and endearing success - and it also benefits from some striking locations captured by the film’s cinematographer Toby Moore, who artfully deals with the natural light. The film has a lovely look to it, especially during the poignant moments on cliffs overlooking the open sea.
Fisherman's Friends: One and All is a pleasant and endearing film, filled with charming and interesting characters, impressive harmonies and lovely locations.