Never Too Late

It’s been fifty years since former special forces soldier Jack Bronson (James Cromwell) last laid eyes on the love of his life – a nurse named Norma (Jacki Weaver) – in Vietnam. But before Jack could propose, he was sent out on a mission and captured. Now a lifetime has passed, but Jack has finally managed to track Norma down to a retirement home in Australia so he can finally ask the question that’s been eating at him for all these years. Unfortunately, before he’s able to propose, life finds a way of interfering again, as Norma is transferred to another facility meant to help with her rapidly deteriorating health due to dementia. It’s therefore up to Jack and the rest of his old unit (who by pure coincidence also happen to be residents in the same retirement home) to find a way to break Norma free before she forgets who he is.

Mark Lamprell’s Never Too Late is a noble attempt at a love story. It has heartfelt intentions when it comes to examining love in twilight years, old friendships and battles with illness. However, no matter how great the intentions were in making this film, its torturously unfunny script, meandering plotline and all-round hideous presentation are irredeemable qualities.

This comedy’s main drawing point is to see Cromwell and Weaver joined by other veteran stars Denis Waterman, Jack Thompson and Roy Billing. While it’s nice to see the stars having fun together onscreen, audiences won’t be having any. The jokes range from the most predictable of gags to being plain old meanspirited. And when the script isn’t desperately trying to elicit a smile, the soundtrack is bashing viewers senselessly over the head with sentimental song after song. It’s a rather unbearable experience.

Meanwhile, the plot scrambles every idea it has together as it tries to create its interpretation of a coherent narrative. Many scenes exist solely to pad out the runtime and add in a few more gags. In fact, the story gets so mind-numbingly irrelevant that the gang end up going off on another tangential adventure on the way to the climax. And even then, the ending still can’t come fast enough.

No matter what, avoid this sickeningly sappy rom-com at all costs.

Andrew Murray

Never Too Late is released in select cinemas on 4^th February 2022.

Watch the trailer for Never Too Late here: