Frank and Percy

Three years after portraying the titular characters in Ben Weatherill’s West End play Frank and Percy, Ian McKellen and Roger Allam reunite to reprise their stage roles in the film adaptation directed by Sean Mathias. The film centres on Frank (Allam), a widowed history teacher, who meets Percy (McKellen), a sociology professor and author, whilst walking their respective dogs Toffee and Bruno in Hampstead Heath. What starts as a polite hello and a few casual comments about the weather (as is British tradition) blossoms into a genuine friendship and then quite wonderfully, becomes something much more.

The charm of Frank and Percy is cultivated by the performances of Allam and McKellen. Frank’s retired routine consists of walking Toffee, volunteering in a charity shop and visiting his late wife’s sister Belinda (played by Joanna Lumley) who is suffering from early-onset dementia. Whilst he is content, there is evidently an air of loneliness to his life, and Allam portrays this with a gentle sensitivity. Percy’s life has more variety and McKellen brings his naturally witty flair to the character. Percy regularly attends yoga classes and audaciously uses a dating app called “Papa Search” which connects younger and older men. He still maintains his profession and alternates between lecturing at universities and attending promotional events for his latest book. Whilst their individual lives are filled with distractions, it is clear both yearn for intimacy and companionship. As the two fall in love, they find a different kind of fulfilment that is sweet, adventurous and downright wholesome, and for Frank especially, it is a journey of discovery as he explores his sexuality with a nervous excitement.

An almost endless roster of British actors make appearances throughout the film. To name a few, Derek Jacobi pops up as Frank’s colleague at the charity shop, Rob Brydon is Percy’s massage therapist, Stephen Fry brings dry humour as Percy’s former partner and Percy’s “Papa Search” dates are played by Ncuti Gatwa and Hugh Skinner who each deliver jovial levity in their scenes. Though these supporting performances are charming, their characters are glaringly one-dimensional, and at times, some of the dialogue edges on absurdity. For instance, the character of Frank’s lodger Emily, whilst capably played by Jessica Gunning, is rendered into a punchline that starts off humorously before descending slightly into tedium. The one major exception is Belinda’s character, whereby, the writing and a brilliant performance by Lumley deftly presents the sombre progression of dementia, displaying this in a tender, understated way.

Ultimately, Frank and Percy is a pleasant tale of unexpectedly finding love later in life. In moments, the film’s pacing is uneven resulting in the runtime feeling longer than the reality but despite this, it is a comforting and sentimental film that is largely anchored by the performances of Allam, McKellen and Lumley.

Sunny Morgan

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Watch the trailer for Frank and Percy here: