The town of Tickle Head used to be thriving fishing port on the coast of Newfoundland. Then the Cod dried up and the town fell on hard times. We join them at a time when everyone is on Welfare and the civic pride has ebbed from the small community like the fish stocks that once sustained them.Then a petro chemical company turns up willing to build a reprocessing plant on the coast – their bid is in with a chance. They like the community but they must have a resident doctor which they do not have and with a small community are unlikely to get one. Brendan Gleeson plays Murray French erstwhile fisherman and now – by default – the Mayor and they think all is lost when fate deals them a one off chance. A plastic surgeon gets sent to the community as a way to avoid awkward questions by the law. The community decide to do a charm offensive in order to persuade this man that their little community is heaven. Problem is he loves cricket, jazz (and they don't) and he has a life he is already missing. Can the plan ever work?Now this is a gentle comedy and the laughs are more smiles than guffaws. However, the film has a warmth and charm that makes you want to watch it. Taylor Kitsch is nice, charming and plays the part to a tee but Gleeson as ever is the scene stealer though he is ably aide in this respect from a supporting cast that all do a fine job. If you like your humour on the slow side but don't mind a tale from left field then I think there is a lot here to enjoy.

I know that this movie is an English language remake of a movie from Quebec, though I have not seen the original movie, so I can't compare the two. But I do have the advantage of being able to judge this remake on its own terms. I wasn't expecting much, seeing that this was a Canadian film funded by the government, and such movies are usually pretentious bores. But I can report that there are some good things about the movie. For starters, it looks very slick and polished, and can stand up head to head against the production values of Hollywood movies. The acting is also pretty good, with everyone giving warm and likable performances.However, there are some problems with the movie. The script has a number of flaws that I am puzzled that no one saw before shooting started. For example, it's not made clear how the doctor got from being caught with cocaine on him to being sent to this small Newfoundland village. His budding romance with a woman in the village also seems half baked and unfinished; at the end of the movie, I didn't know where it was going or even if it got anywhere.Such script problems might have been small flaws had the biggest problem with the movie not existed, that being the comic portion of the movie. Now, I am glad the movie didn't play out in an unsubtle and in-your-face manner akin to Hollywood, but it goes too far in the opposite direction. The movie is more "cute" than laugh out loud funny. Though I did smile a little, I would have liked a few laugh out loud moments sprinkled throughout.In the end, the movie is so-so. It could have been better. Still, compared to most Canadian films being made, it is watchable. There are a lot more worst cinematic ways to spend your time.

Can't explain why I go for the little films that move me instead of reviewing the mainstream movies. Maybe it's a small-team, small-budget spirit, I don't know. This particular one catched me from the very start right to the end. A very tiny little story, somehow spoiled by the tiranny of time. I had that strange feeling of watching it and never wanted it to end. This film could be splitted into a miniseries I think. In fact, there are so many little stories about Tickle Head's people interacting you could watch this forever, involving yourselves at full. There's a story in every man, in every random people you just can't encompass in the nearly two hours of script that's shown in Grand Seduction. That's the power of film-making, so as Stephen King's tell- tales do. This, of course, has nothing to do with horror or prisons, but the spirit is the same. The every day random actions of sinful and faithful people and how they (or we) cope with them. A whole town gathered to get themselves happiness commanded by the great Brendan Gleeson in a superb and a suitable role.I'm not in the position to write an acting review since this movie surpassed me completely. This story is a hell of a good story, full of British humor I know this is not for everybody, but merges well in the script. Overall, is the story that stands for itself. Actors are very good at their roles, but that script starting with that simple premise, (the little poor town trying to "catch" a doctor and a career opportunity at the same time, can give you a fantastic thrill even though this is not a thriller film.Brightful, somehow dark, roughly told, hilarious at times, there are for certain some flaws and stories that could've developed better. But after all, it's a beautiful adventure.I liked it very much. A lot. That's why I'm giving it an 8. I love movies that move me. That's why Im writing. Grand Seduction haunted me, I was so sad when the credits rolled, because it ended. That's what some people who are in this business should learn. To "catch" their audience, to generate sympathy.Greetings from Argentina and sorry, of course, my English is a little rusty.

I got this movie solely because it had Taylor Kitsch in it. And if not for that anticipation, I would have turned this one off after a half hour. In that half hour, it was slow and predictable and was only watchable for it's beautiful scenery. Once Taylor arrived, it became very entertaining, while still predictable. The pace picked up a touch and all the actors suddenly became more entertaining. I suppose the director was trying to "set the scene" in the beginning and some more artistic viewers may appreciate that but I just found it boring. But the rest of the movie was funny, touching and satisfying so stay patient especially if you like Taylor.