There have been many films that take the lead character out of their familiar settings. These films put their leads in an unfamiliar territory full of quirky, eccentric characters. Almost any Wes Anderson or Coen Brothers film does this. And almost every time they get attraction from award shows for being different. Falling For Figaro, the latest film by award winning director Ben Lewin (The Sessions) falls into the same genre, mixed with a romcom, which makes it unique its own way.

Millie (French Exit‘s Danielle Macdonald) has a dream, and it’s not working in some stuffy office doing reports and managing teams. She wants to be an opera singer. The only problem is, she doesn’t have any experience or formal training. Luckily she has a friend who knows someone who may help, an eccentric former singer named Meghan (Paddington 2‘s Joanna Lumley). The only problem is Meghan lives in the middle of the Scottish Highlands,. She lives in a small town that can barely be called a town.

Meghan’s also not taking on students, other than Max (The Windsor’s Hugh Skinner), the local jack of all trades with operatic dreams of his own. Millie refuses to take no for an answer however. She agrees to some crazy terms (including no drinking even though she’s staying in a pub or no visitors). After that, she’s got herself a teacher. The only question she has left, however, is does she have what it takes?

In a film full of eccentric, quirky characters, Falling For Figaro is led by the charming Danielle MacDonald. In all honesty, without her playful and hopeful attitude, this film probably wouldn’t work. The chemistry between her and almost anyone else in the film is strong. But it’s the way she approaches the role with a can-do and never-give-up attitude. And she gives her character a naïve, headstrong determination that makes her fun to watch.

Of course no review of the film would do it justice without mentioning Joanna Lumley. Lumley’s scene-stealing one-liners will crack you up, and some of them come out so quickly that you might even miss them. At its heart however, Falling For Figaro is a romcom, and unfortunately like many romcoms this film tends to be sappy and cheesy. Going into such a film you tend to expect that, but you are also looking for a bit of believability. This film has none, and you are forced to suspend your disbelief further than you usually would.

Falling for Figaro has its moment of good natured enjoyment, and it will have an audience, but it’s not for everyone. The best parts are the characters, their quirkiness and charm, but without a decent plot the film falls flat.