Movie Review: Then Came You (2020)

I'm beginning my review of Then Came You with a picture of the most memorable character in the movie, Ardkinglas House, Scotland. After this landmark I recall with pleasure the Scottish countryside, sheep and several scenes featuring lochs.

Ardkinglas House, Argyll, Scotland

_{Credit: Tom Parnell, from Scottish Borders, Scotland. Used under CC attribution share-alike 2.0 generic license. The original castle was built in the 14th century, but that structure was replaced twice. The existing 'house' was constructed in 1906 with modern conveniences, such as electricity, included.}

As I try to recall specific events in this movie in order to give a meaningful review, my greatest impression is this: why did I watch the film to its end? From the start, the resolution of the internal conflict was predictable. Although some events in the film were mildly surprising, at no point did any of the surprises flow with the narrative or make the narrative more credible.

Sheep Resting, Argyll and Bute District, Scotland

_{Credit:Gerd Eichmann. Used under CC Attribution Share-alike 4.0 license. Although I'm fairly certain these are not the sheep I saw in the movie, still they give an idea of how charming those sheep were. It seems (Craig Ferguson declares this in the movie), there are more sheep than people in Scotland (in 2021, 6.83 million sheep; in 2019 5,463,300 people).}

Usually, when I write a movie or book review, I caution readers about spoilers. No need here. There is no way to spoil the reader's anticipation. We have seen/read this plot many times. The 'unique' twist added three quarters of the way through the film in no way redeems its trite essence. The twist seems totally contrived and at that late juncture in the movie, viewers (this viewer) have lost interest and don't care.

Loch Fyne, Argyll, Scotland

_{Credit: Sylvia Duckworth. Used under CC attribution Share-alike 2.0 license. Ardkinglas House sits on the shores of Loch Fyne. One of the scenes in the movie--Gifford goes fishing with Ferguson--is shot, I believe on the loch.}

Originally, I started the film and expected little. I chose it because I couldn't sleep. My husband was in the hospital getting tests done. His head had rested on a pillow next to mine for 50 years, but that night it was not there. Watching bland, predictable movies was my sleeping potion of choice. In the case of Then Came You, the intended soporific was ineffective--probably because the film was so irritating.

If one were to characterize the movie with a few words (besides trite and predicable) one might suggest that the movie was entirely a vanity project. Screenplay, Kathie Lee Gifford. Producer, Kathie Lee Gifford. Star, Kathie Lee Gifford. Musical performances, Kathie Lee Gifford.

The Stag Hotel, Argyll, Scotland

_{Credit:PAUL FARMER / The Stag Hotel Argyll St Lochgilphead / CC BY-SA 2.0. This hotel actually has a longer history than Ardkinglas House. The hotel was built in 1847. One of the scenes in the movie is shot at this hotel.}

The plot, thinly drawn (how else can one summarize such a story line?): A widow, Annabelle Wilson, travels from Nantucket to Scotland with her husband's ashes in tow. The ashes are carried in a chocolate candy box. There is an explicit reference to Forest Gump in the script, but the thematic connection was lost on me.

One of the songs Gifford sings, with Brett James, who co-wrote the song:

When the widow arrives in Scotland she is greeted by a grumpy widower, who happens to be Lord Howard Awd, owner of the castle that will be the site of her lodging.

There we have it--grumpy widower, lonely widow, and the rest of the movie to tell a story that has the most predictable end possible.

To his credit, Ferguson delivers his lines with color. But oh those lines. What could anyone do with them?

There are a few frames where Kathie Lee Gifford is not featured. These are reasonably well acted by Craig Ferguson and Ford Kiernan, but even these performances are not very persuasive. Perhaps (besides the dog, Wally, given life on the screen by the canine actor, Pan) Kiernan was my favorite actor. Lest my readers suspect that I'm exaggerating Gifford's ubiquity in the film, take a look at this preview and note the number of frames in which she appears--often all by herself:

Readers will notice the presence of Elizabeth Hurley in the trailer. She is not highlighted in my review because in the film she is mostly a cardboard cutout, a one-dimensional foil for Gifford.

I can't think of one reason to recommend this film, except that Kathie Lee Gifford fans will love it. Also, soap opera addicts will no doubt be entertained.

• Cast
  Kathie Lee Gifford -------------Annabelle Wilson, Widow
  Craig Ferguson------------------Lord Howard Awd, Widower
  Ford Kiernan--------------------Gavin Ferguson, Friend and Helper to Howard
  Elizabeth Hurley-----------------Clare Hollings, Howard's Fiance
  Phyllida Law----------------------Arlene Awd, Howard's Aunt
  Brett James------------------------Jax Spence, Singer

• Screenplay
  Kathie Lee Gifford and Chris Blake

• Producer
  Kathie Lee Gifford and Matthew T. Weiner

• Music
  Brett James, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Sal Olivari

• Release date:
  2020

• Runtime:
  97 minutes

• Genre
  Romantic comedy

• Available
  May be viewed now on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Hulu and other streaming services.