Looking for a boost of British morale? Look no further than Their Finest, starring Gemma Arterton and Sam Claflin, for a dose of charm and drama. There's a whole host of bonus big British names like Bill Nighy, Richard E. Grant and Helen McCrory too. It's a charming film with a fun film-within-a-film during the Second World War Blitz. With Arterton and Claflin's finest acting on show, and a superb turn from Nighy, it's sure to raise your spirits. 

Scriptwriter Catrin Cole (Arterton) finds herself employed by the Ministry of Information (not Magic, sorry) to help write a script that will bring hope to a nation at war. She's hired to add a woman's touch, which in turn leads to the finding of a woman's voice. Despite the slightly off-key Welsh accent, she's absolutely a character to root for as she navigates the scriptwriting process and filming. Some have billed this as a rom-com, as Sam Claflin plays handsome but sometimes condescending co-writer Tom Buckley and there's a decent amount of chemistry. Problem is, she's married - gasp! Fear not, it's actually not that kind of film and "rom-com" is a misleading label. There's a load of drama and, given it's set in the middle of a terrible war, it's not a smooth journey. I'm less a fan of the romantic side of it since it feels like a slightly disjointed addition to the film.

Let's talk about that film-within-a-film. It's a Dunkirk rescue mission (inspired by a true-ish story) led by two local girls who become accidental heroes. But naturally, a drunk uncle character is needed - enter Bill Nighy as has-been actor Ambrose Hilliard and drunk Uncle Frank. Hilliard is hilarious, but it's Nighy who shines and steals every scene he steps into with his rockstar persona - you shouldn't like him at all but Nighy makes it tricky to comply. A behind-the-scenes look at the film industry is also fascinating, with Director Lone Scherfig unafraid to poke fun at actors and also show home truths (such as the everyday sexism and political drivers), even if they are exaggerated for comedic effect. We get to see snippets of this film and it's so bad that it's good. Thankfully the real deal film is much better. After all, Buckley tells us "film is real life without the boring parts."

Their Finest isn't always 100% believable but what is most authentic is the journey of Catrin Cole. There's one scene where her husband Ellis (played by Jack Huston) is trying to persuade her to leave London because he can't look after her financially, and she places a great big lump of money on the table and calls it "rent". She's talented and determined, and watching her find her purpose is a revelation. Gemma Arterton shows us all the emotions she can muster in an understated sort of way and it's hard to imagine any other actress playing the role. Even an actual Welsh one. Sam Claflin is also a solid bet too, adding depth to his performance even if his character could do with more of it (depth).

My main critique is when Their Finest officially takes on too much and also taking too much time. At nearly two hours long, it waits until towards the end where the entire story seems to confusingly flip to another one, and suddenly "The End" could well be another four hours down the line. It loses smoothness and clarity. Is it a drama? A romance? A comedy? A war drama? It's possible to produce a well-rounded, jam-packed movie, but unfortunately Their Finest falls short at executing it well. Even if it means very well.

Bar the weird (but actually quite full-circle) ending, Their Finest is a wise and wisecracking film that should uplift you even if there are some tears along the way. It's not just a girl-meets-boy story and romance - it's got far too much substance. It tackles feminist issues head-on and don't forget that Bill Nighy performing ridiculous vocal warm-ups is itself a pretty compelling reason to buy the cinema ticket.

*Shoutout to the FDA for the invite!*
Their Finest is in cinemas now.