CATRIONA PAUL at the movies.

A SCOTTISH comedy/drama set in an imaginary Highland town which tells the tale of a group of 20-something buddies offered a way out of dull lives by the discovery of gold. If only it was any good.

One Last Chance stars some of the country’s brightest young stars; too bright perhaps to convince as uncharismatic clods. Jamie Sives, fresh from success in Wilbur (Wants to Kill Himself), plays Fitz who has stayed home too long. His dopey best friends are Seany (Kevin McKidd) and Nellie (Iain Robertson). Together, the trio bungle through the film in scenes reminiscent of the low points of Monarch of the Glen but with plenty of swearing thrown in, presumably for the sake of realism.

Director Stewart Svaasand may have been better to surrender to whimsy wholesale but instead he takes pains to recreate what’s depressing about small towns. Urban decay may be cool but dilapidated rural is just dismal. A backwards achievement indeed to make the Highlands look so drab.

Back to the story, and the boys are prevented from cashing in their nugget by the dastardly meddling of the film’s cardboard villain, Harry (Jimmy Chisholm). Harry operates out of the town’s curling club which has its own weird (yet predictable) induction protocol. James Cosmo lends class to a few scenes as Big John, the local mobster; shame he wasn’t given more screen time.

Funding for home-grown films isn’t abundant which is what makes One Last Chance frustratingly bad. An impressive cast trying to contain their charisma, a poorly edited script, second rate slapstick, and Scotland looking worse than dreich. How’s that for playing to your strengths? So the budget was limited – no excuse, this film’s blown all its chances.

ONE LAST CHANCE (15)
General release, selected cinemas.

Director: Stewart Svaasand
Writer: Stewart Svassand
Stars: Jamie Sives, Kevin McKidd, Iain Rovertson, Neve McIntosh, Dougray Scott, Jimmy Chisholm, James Cosmo, Ewan Stewart
Certificate: 15
Country: UK / Norway
Year: 2004

© Catriona Paul, 2004