Displaying items by tag: Jo Hartley

BANK OF DAVE 2

UK, 2025, 104 minutes, Colour.

Rory Kinnear, Joe Hartley, Chrissy Metz, Amit Shah, Rob Delaney, Leila Farzad, Hugh Bonneville.

Directed by Chris Foggin.

A response to the original film, Bank of Dave, could be “If only…!”.

And, it could be a response to Bank of Dave 2.

Which means that their stories about Dave Fishwick and establishing the Bank of Dave, his personality, life in Burnley, Lancashire, his concern about ordinary people needing loans and asking for small interest payments, giving profits to charity, made for a rather heartwarming true/truish story.

So, what could happen with Bank of Dave 2? The subtitle is an enjoyable play on words, with Dave as something of a Loan Ranger, but with his discovery of the exorbitant rates charged by upstart companies, controlled by US interests, freely operating with poor legislation in the UK, the threats to ordinary people and getting them into situations impossible to repay the loan let alone the interest, here was a possible crusade for Dave.

And, he takes it up, becomes involved, takes risks, runs the danger of gangster manoeuvres from the US, has the backing of his local parliamentarian, even the backing and help from his rival from the previous film, Sir Charles, played by Hugh Bonneville.

Rory Kinnear was very engaging in the first film as Dave and continues his charm and exuberance. And, supported very well by Joe Hartley as his wife Nikki, full of common sense but also shrewdness. And, this time, he is helped by the rather awkwardly reticent Oliver (Amit Shah) who works as an accountant for Citizens Advice, recommended to Dave and becoming enthusiastic in helping Dave seek out particular cases, especially for possible court cases against the companies.

Dave has also read an article by American Jessica (singer and television star of over 100 episodes of This is Us, Chrissy Metz). He Is persuaded to come to Burnley, is almost knocked over in the street by Oliver whom she then meets officially, but is eager to collaborate, finally being able to draw on a past friend in New Jersey for a confrontation with the gangster.

The screenplay is often very broad, comic touches rather than subtlety, the romance very early signalled, but the road to confrontation with the exploitative business is actually quite complex, interestingly so.

Which means that most people who enjoyed the first one will enjoy the second – though there are quite a number of bloggers who seem to resent sequels and want to bad mouthe them. And, it seems a pity that there are many bloggers also who seem to become allergic and condemnatory when they go and see what might be described as a nice and entertaining film.

1. The popularity of the original film? The work of Dave Fishwick? The movement towards the Bank of Dave? The next step in Dave Fishwick’s campaigns, the loan companies?
2. Back to Burnley, Lancashire? The pictures of the town, homes, workplaces, buildings? The scenes in New York, the editorial rooms? New Jersey, the restaurants, the gangster’s home? The musical score, the finale concert, def leopard, and the finale in the pub, Stand by Me?
3. Presupposing knowledge of Dave, his personality, his concern and commitment, the bank, charity work, the support of his wife, her shrewdness?
4. The television interviews, the question on the radio interview, his concern about loans, finding out more, reading Jessica’s article, phoning her, inviting her to Burnley? His meeting with Oliver, Oliver and is Citizens Advice work? His interest in working with Dave?
5. Jessica, her articles, personality, cerebral, invitation to write person-oriented articles, phoning Dave, coming to Burnley, Dave’s explanation of the town, the situations, the loans? Her standing in the street, almost knocked down by Oliver, the discussions, his awkwardness, their meeting in Dave’s bank? Their friendship, working together, telling stories, reticence, the bonding between them?
6. Oliver, the various stories, Zoe singing at the pub, her mother and debt? The other stories? Jessica and Oliver going to the various interviews, the sad stories of the loans, the exorbitant interest rates? Oliver and Jessica with the idea of filming, the episodes, David his involvement? Online, the number of viewers?
7. Dave and his involvement, the discovery of the various companies, their exorbitant rates, the decision to buy back some of the debts, going to pay, empty offices, the confrontation with the official and the big building, security, confirming Dave is commitment?
8. Mancini, gangster, reputation, in New Jersey, the contact with Margot, his supporting her, demands, her plans, wanting payments, court cases, buying off, the confrontations with Dave?
9. The MP and his support, Sir Charles and the previous antagonism, his coming to support Dave, recommending the lawyer?
10. The court case, Dave and Nikki and the rehearsals, the actual case, Margot and the threats, the whole truth and nothing but, Tom Cruise joke, Dave and his speech, the documentation, the information from the lawyer, Dave and co and their research into payments, the attempts at paying back and no contact with the companies, everything online? The judge, the adjournment, Margot and dropping the case?
11. The emotional side, Oliver and Jessica, discussions, their lives, his divorce, boring job, her contact with the police and detective? The phone call, her successful articles, returning to the US? Oliver’s reaction?
12. The issue of the papers served on Mancini, the help of the detective, Dave, Nikki and Oliver going to the US, Jessica and her help, going to the restaurant, the next day, the detective turning up, the serving of the papers, the gangsters tracking Dave through his phone, to the concert, the device of getting him back to England?
13. Success, Jessica going to Burnley, the pub, Zoe and her mother on stage, the arrival of Def Lepard and co-, Stand by Me?
14. The truth behind the film, truish – and the inventiveness of the gangster connection for the drama?