Great performances raise 'Chalet Girl' above the norm

Director: Phil Traill

Cast: Bill Nihy, Felicity Jones, Ed Westwick, Bill Bailey

A romantic little film that doesn’t trouble the grey cells too much but still manages to be charmingly entertaining, though the lack of sustained wit precludes the description of it being a comedy.

It’s a conventional enough story with no pretentions to be otherwise: a pretty young fish out of water – Kim Matthews (the excellent Jones) – and a former skateboard champion fetches up as a maid in a snooty Alpine resort since she needs to keep a roof over her and her father’s (Bailey) head.

Surrounded by the rich and largely vapid ski-set and with a growing romance with the boss’s son Jonny (Westwick) she discovers snowboarding and seeing it as a means of getting much needed money and approval from her peers enters a big competition.

All ordinary enough but greatly elevated by the performances of and chemistry between Jones and Westwick.

Candyfloss to be sure, but when it’s as sweet as this what’s wrong with candyfloss?

Star Rating: 4/5