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Chalet Girl (DVD)
Year: 2011
Rating: PG
Director: Phil Traill
Cast: Tamsin Egerton, Felicity Jones, Bill Nighy, Brooke Shields, Ed Westwick
Release Date: January 12, 2012
Distributor: Paramount
The Film: 3.0
FILMINK rates DVDs and Blu-rays out of 5“…superior to standard rom-com fare.”
Bouncing back from the critical and commercial failure of his train wreck feature film debut All About Steve, Director Phil Traill proves that he is capable of delivering a solid cinematic effort with the infectious romantic comedy Chalet Girl.
Following the tragic death of her mother, ex-skateboarding champion Kim Matthews (Felicity Jones) finds herself stuck in a dead end job, attempting to emotionally and financially support her ineffectual but well meaning father, Bill (Bill Bailey). Kim's world changes drastically, however, after accepting a catering job at an exclusive chalet in the Alps, where she discovers that she can utilise her natural sporting prowess to excel at snowboarding. Determined to win the end of season competition, Kim begins to work through the process of conquering her fears as well as quashing her growing lust for her handsome and newly engaged boss Jonny (Ed Westwick).
Although the narrative overflows with the kind of clichéd riddled plot points that we have come to expect from films of this genre, the dynamic young cast, somewhat odd sporting motif and lush setting are enough to make the film feel fresh.
Star on the rise Felicity Jones certainly makes a refreshingly strong and intelligent romantic comedy ingénue; her decidedly unique screen presence coupled with an innate depth ensures that her portrayal of complicated tomboy Kim, is one of the most relatable since Renee Zellweger first slipped on the granny knickers in Bridget Jones. Rounding out the mostly up and coming cast is Gossip Girl heart throb Ed Westwick, who doesn't exactly stretch his acting chops playing the handsome, powerful and debonair love interest Jonny, and St Trinian alumnus Tamsin Egerton, who almost steals the show as Kim's delightfully ditzy roommate Georgie. Also expect a highly enjoyable turn from the ever-brilliant Bill Nighy, who manages to bring a healthy dose of sarcastic witticisms whenever the film runs the risk of becoming unbearably saccharine.
Chalet Girl has its flaws; predictability, hokey dialogue and a plethora of impossible scenarios being primary amongst them. Director, Traill, never aims above delivering anything but a highly accessible, female-targeted romance, and yet, in spite of this, the film somehow manages to remain superior to standard rom-com fare.
