Greatest Days – Film Review
by Brian Merriman

Hits by Take That, written by Tim Firth based on his musical The Band.
Directed – Coky Giedreyc
Writer – Tim Firth
Choreography – Drew McOnie
Stars – Aisling Bea, Matthew McNulty, Alice Lowe

Duration 1 hour 52 minutes.

Greatest Days, the ‘Take That’ musical is all you’d expect it to be and more! Writer Tim Firth builds on his 2018 stage musical hit ‘The Band’ to reminisce, celebrate, tug the heartstrings and make us all feel good about a string of hits still instantly recognisable. Firth makes a strong contribution in creating five strong Northern women who go to relive part of their youth obsession on a trip to Athens. The double casting of older and teenage roles is particularly fortunate. Both teams can sing, dance and act and swing us along on a story that will make you smile and sigh. Irish comedian, Ashling Bea shines as Irish nurse Rachel. Her younger self Lara McDonnell equally impresses. Alice Lowe (Heather), Amaka Okafor (Zoe) and Joyce Adams (Claire) all meet up again by a lucky chance, 25 years later at a ‘The Boys’ reunion tour. They have changed but is the old bond for the music enough to get them through the past quarter of a century apart?

There are nice subplots with a good character sketch arc from their juvenile selves McDonnell (Rachel), Carragon Guest (Claire), Debbie (Jessie Mae Alonzo) and Nandi Sawyer. Hufson (Zoe) and Heather ( Eliza Dobson) to the very different paths they take in adult life. Marc Wooton’s Jeff is a great love foil for Rachel who just won’t commit, despite his admirable persistence! The choreography, settings and costumes are glowing when the ordinary Lancashire town of Clitheroe melts away for a colourful and camp celebration of the iconic soundtrack. It’s got touches of Busby Berkeley, Baz Luhrmann, ‘Mamma Mia’ and ‘Moulin Rouge’. That being said, it’s no pastiche of other ideas, it stands on its own two feet, as a storyline with a great score. ‘Greatest Days’ is full of nostalgic fun and ‘Take That’ (co-producers) even make a cameo appearance. The final bow must go to the five members of ‘The Boys’, more ‘One Direction’ diversity than the original five that stormed out of Manchester three decades ago. This multi-talented quintet pop up everywhere like ‘Teen Angels’ in ‘Grease’ adding energy, fun and great vocals! The songs are sung by the cast in some fresh arrangements (including some for the female casts) and the boys and company dance their socks off throughout. It is all so colourful and camp.

The choreography is full-on until it relaxes into the more stereotypical “feel good’ finale formula that resolves everything. ‘Greatest Days’ is well worth seeing on the big screen, but just like the ‘Mamma Mia’ series, this will take its rightful ‘feel good’ place in many a TV schedule in the years to come. In fact, there is more than enough in the ‘Take That’ catalogue to fill a sequel. You’ll enjoy it!