Here's a familiar movie: family (three sisters) gather for the occasion of a funeral, and the dynamics between them and the messiness of their lives will be revealed for a mix of comedy and drama. For good measure, add a facet of one of the family members seeing visions of the deceased. How much you need to see this will depend partly on how many similar titles you've seen, and mostly on whether or not there's a particular person involved of whom you're a fan. There's nothing wrong with this rendition, mind you, but nor is there anything special about it per se as it adopts a vaguely warm, bittersweet, wry tone. Still, 'Before you go' is ably crafted and duly satisfying; don't go out of your way for it, but this is suitably worthwhile if you come across it.
I'm unsure how successful this is in blending the comedic and dramatic flavors, and the viewing experience feels like it carries a bit of a yo-yo effect, especially when it goes extra silly and frivolous. The cast is obviously having a good time, though, and after all, they're the reason we're here. Julie Walters, Joanne Whalley, John Hannah, Tom Wilkinson, and Victoria Hamilton fully embrace the varied personalities of their characters and lean into all that the picture entails, from the more argumentative or emotional moments to the most outlandish ones. The actors are the chief reason to watch this, really, though in fairness, they rely here on the foundation of Shelagh Stephenson's screenplay - and while the writing doesn't leap out in any specific way, it's sufficient thoughtful and well done to keep us engaged. To that end, Lewis Gilbert does a fine job tying all the pieces together in his last feature as a director, though I maintain that the writing and acting is most important here.
The filming locations are lovely, and the production design is solid. The hair and makeup is swell, and the wardrobe department seemed to be having a ball. 'Before you go' is rather beautifully shot, in my opinion, a credit to cinematographer Nic Morris. And though the result is imperfect and uneven, at its best the film really is a fine credit to Stephenson, for there is wit that serves up real humor, smart and meaningful dramatic beats that bear earnest weight, and in all capacities the writing has true strength to it. The characters are complicated and multifaceted, the dialogue and scene writing has force to it but is penned with a shrewd, delicate hand, and the story at large is well written enough to be compelling, and hold our attention. I think the movie would have come off better had it further reduced the humorous edges, or at least shed those that weren't extra wry, such that the totality was a tad more plainly dramatic, or at least more balanced.
What it comes down to its that it feels in some measure as if this didn't entirely know what it wanted to be as the flavors mix. When all is said and done, though, it's better than not, even if it won't stand out in a crowd. The writing is overall splendid, and the cast is excellent; as a fan of Whalley, I'm pleased that she turns out to possibly have the most prominence here. It's not a title that demands viewership, yet if one does have the chance to watch, 'Before you go' is worth watching on a quiet day.
