These two movies have plenty in common, not only are they both set in the UK, but both are directed by an English theatre and film director Thea Sharrock. This is my intro to her film work, though some of you might be familiar with her film Me Before You. Wicked Little Letters has been released in the UK in February, but it’ll open in US theaters on Friday, April 5. The Beautiful Game is currently streaming on Netflix.

Wicked Little Letters

I’m a big fan of British comedies, especially those set in smaller towns like this one in Littlehampton, a small seaside town a couple of hours south of London. The cast is top-notch, Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley reunite after playing the same character in The Lost Daughter without sharing a single scene. This time there are plenty of interactions between the two who play neighbors who couldn’t be more different from each other. Colman plays Edith, a pious, deeply conservative spinster living with her religious parents (Timothy Spall and Gemma Jones). Meanwhile, Buckley’s Rose is a boisterous Irish migrant single mom living with her young daughter Nancy (Alisha Weir).

Then a series of anonymous shockingly profane letters arrive in Edith’s and fellow residents’ homes, which undoubtedly cause an uproar in the small village. Given her wild behavior, Rose becomes an easy scapegoat and she ends up being charged with the crime. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction as this is inspired by a real scandal in 1918. Rose’s situation seems hopeless at first given that the only person on her side is her boyfriend Bill (Malachi Kirby) who happens to be black. Yet she gained an unlikely ally in the form of a female police constable of Indian-descent Gladys (Anjana Vasan) who along with a few townswomen (Joanna Scanlan, Eileen Atkins) strive to uncover the mystery behind the culprit of those wicked letters.

Wicked Little Letters is a delightfully cheeky comedy you can enjoy over a cup of tea, though the hilarious obscenities might cause you to spit your drink. Thea Sharrock’s direction is understated, but she manages to infuse riotous humor, heartwarming friendships, and social commentary about gender inequality and poor treatment of women in the patriarchal society. Jonny Sweet’s script is quite predictable as it’s easy to figure out the culprit, but I appreciate that the narrative makes room for Gladys’ character arc, so she’s not just here to move Edith and Rose’s story forward. The movie also exposes the religious hypocrisy that’s truly the most wicked part of the story. Edith gets the brunt of that from her unkind, tyrannical father while Gladys is constantly belittled by her chief police boss.

Now, I normally am not a fan of overly sweary movies but in the case of this one, the cussing and swear words that warrant the R-rating are integral to the plot and make for some of the funniest moments. Colman and Buckley are wonderful to watch as always, but Vasan’s performance is memorable as well. For a movie with so many nasty words being written and spoken, there’s benevolence and grace that reverberate in this movie and it also ends on a hopeful note that leaves a sweet aftertaste.

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The Beautiful Game

I’m not a big sports fan but I sure enjoy a feel-good sports dramedy like this one that centers on a real football match known as the Homeless World Cup. Thea Sharrock is at the helm again with another favorite British actor, Bill Nighy.

Nighy plays Mal, a former football scout who now coaches a ragtag team of homeless men in London vying to finally win a medal at the next tournament in Rome. Early in the movie, Mal is seen scouting a talented striker Vinny (Micheal Ward), and trying to persuade him to join the team. Vinny looks down upon the group and refuses Mal’s offer. Despite that cold reaction, one immediately senses there’s more to him than meets the eye. Vinny lives in his car (it’s an Audi but still, that doesn’t exactly make for a comfy sleeping arrangement), but too proud to admit that he’s homeless.

This is an underdog sports story unlike any other I’ve seen because the team is comprised of actual society’s underdogs, each has their own story that causes them to be in their current living situation. I didn’t know that this Homeless World Cup actually existed before seeing this movie, but apparently, it’s an annual tournament started in 1999 with male-only competitors, but from 2010, the tournaments have featured both men’s and women’s teams.

Nighy is the heart and soul of the film here, a gentle and warm performance while still showcasing his passionate and cheeky side. His empathy and love for his team are palpable, and the way he cares for them without judgment of their past deeds is inspiring. Ward, whom I last saw with Olivia Colman in Empire of Light is charismatic but at times his stoic demeanor keeps viewers at arm’s length.

Though this is largely Mal and Vinny’s story, screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce allows for other team members to shine as well, notably Cal (Kit Young), Nathan (Callum Scott Howells) and Jason (Sheyi Cole) who’s the comic relief as he’s crushing over Rosita (Cristina Rodlo) from the US team. Oh and who could forget Aldar (Robin Nazari), a brainy former barber who lost his family to war-torn Syria. I absolutely adore Susan Wokoma as sister Protasia who coaches the talented South African team. Her vivacious personality is infectious and the movie’s energy shoots up every time Wokoma is on screen.

The Beautiful Game isn’t impervious to some schmaltzy, cliched moments and at over 2 hours long, it could use a much tighter editing. Overall though, this is an uplifting sports drama with a redemptive message and that friendhip is much more valuable than winning. While there are some LOL moments, it doesn’t try too hard to be likable by being overly goofy like Next Goal Wins. DP Mike Eley captures the gorgeous Roman scenery beautifully, making me want to book another visit to the eternal city.

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Have you seen either one of these movies? Let me know what you think!

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