Yahoo Movies Nicola Coughlan and Aimee Lou Wood's movie gets mixed reviews
Aimee Lou Wood and Nicola Coughlan's latest film Seize Them! has divided critics following its premiere.
Released in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on April 5, the medieval comedy stars Sex Education's Wood as the ousted Queen Dagan who's become a fugitive after a charismatic revolutionary named Humble Joan (Coughlan) takes her crown.
Queen Dagan must now rely on the help of her loyal handmaiden Shulmay (Lolly Adefope) and villager Bobik (Nick Frost) in order to rally a brand new army and reclaim her castle, learning about her kingdom along the way.
Seize Them! has been written by Emmy-winning screenwriter Andy Riley (Veep) and directed by Curtis Vowell. James Acaster, Jessica Hynes, Paul Kaye, Ben Ashenden and Nitin Ganatra also star.
Related: First trailer for Sex Education and Ghosts stars' new comedy Seize Them!
Initial responses for the film have been mixed, with critics praising the film's "likeable" cast and light-hearted comedy while others have likened it to a "Monty Python rip-off."
Here's what the first reviews have said:
The Guardian
"You can't do this kind of comedy without invoking Monty Python and the Holy Grail at some level... But the difference is that this is a very female-centred movie, with very good comedy turns all round."
The Independant
"If this all sounds a bit derivative, that’s because it is, borrowing heavily from films such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The script lacks the nuance of Catherine Called Birdy, relying too much on manure gags. But it is elevated by the highly watchable performances of Wood, Adefope, Frost and Coughlan."
Related: Sex Education star Aimee Lou Wood's new drama drops first trailer
The Telegraph
"Andy Riley's script, alas, fires off 20 gags a minute with a subprime hit-rate... Coughlan strides in with purpose and immediately gets some laughs, so it's a pity Joan’s relegated to being a fairly menial baddie, mostly off-screen, for the rest of the film.
"Having her and Dagan butt heads in an honest-to-goodness queen-off is one opportunity missed."
Loud and Clear Reviews
"Seize Them! is very funny, particularly thanks to its editing and acting. The characters may feel exaggerated, almost like a parody of what they are meant to represent, but they truly work, especially the main trio, thanks to the personal journey they all undertake during the movie.
"It is a fun adventure and, ultimately, a journey of friendship and self-discovery."
Seize Them! is available to watch in UK and Irish cinemas. A US release date will be announced in due course.
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