ChickLit

ChickLit is a hilarious British comedy that delves deeply into small-town living, while also exploring the world of publishing and friendship. The movie was released in 2016, directed by Tony Britten and boasts a phenomenal cast including stars like Christian McKay, Dakota Blue Richards, and Caroline Catz. Shot mainly in Norfolk and Newcastle, the visual landscape serves as a delightful background to the comedic and chaotic story that unfolds.

The plot revolves around a quartet of friends; Chris, Dan, Marcus, and Luke, who experience what can only be termed as a crisis of masculinity. They find themselves drowning in debts as their pub, traditionally a money-maker and the centre of their social lives, struggles to stay afloat. Amid their financial woes, what they consider their last hope to save their beloved pub is jeopardized as a horror film venture turns sour. The attempt to raise funds takes a quirky turn when they decide to write an erotic novel, which they believe is a sure way to quick money due to its current popularity in the market.

However, each having his inhibitions and concerns, they end up selecting a rather unconventional author for the job –none other than Chris (Christian McKay). Shy and scholarly, Chris is a high school English teacher who is confronted with the challenging task of writing a 'Fifty Shades of Grey' style provocative novel, while maintaining his reputation in the tight-knit community. This leads to a series of comedic and awkward situations as he juggles between maintaining his persona and exploring the risqué genre of chick-lit.

After the manuscript is leaked to the public anonymously, it creates a frenzy in their small town and propels the friends into the spotlight. A pop-culture phenomenon, their work does not just create a stir in their locality, but also garners attention from a savvy publisher from London. As the novel's success skyrockets, the only thing they need to do to collect their profits is to find a female face for their phantom author.

Enter, Dakota Blue Richards as the confident and ambitious Zoe. Perfect to play the role of the fake author, Zoe, who is young, smart and eager to make a name for herself, agrees to take on this wild journey. Between navigating the chaos of their local fame and handling the melee that comes with getting their book published, the bond of friendship among the group is put to a serious test.

Meanwhile, the individual lives of these characters run parallel with their joint venture of the novel. The beloved pub becomes a battle zone of masculinity, friendship, and survival. We also get to see their personal interactions, romantic undertakings, and individual challenges as a part of their small-town living. Caroline Catz puts in an excellent performance as Marcus's romantic interest, adding another layer of complexity to the overall story.

ChickLit brilliantly comments on the literary world's fad of anonymous authors, the stereotype of gender roles in writing, the use of pseudonyms, and the slight undertone of double standards regarding what women and men can write about. The small-town aura adds charm to the plot while successfully addressing many social nuances.

The movie is full of laughter, awkwardness and the right amount of self-deprecation. It maintains its comic pitch throughout, but also finds space to meditate on friendship, identity, ambition and love. The performances from all the actors, notably Christian McKay, Dakota Blue Richards, and Caroline Catz, are stellar, making ChickLit an engaging, fun-filled ride.

In conclusion, ChickLit offers a great blend of comedy and drama, ultimately delivering a feel-good movie experience. Its blend of humor, eccentric characters, flawed friendships, and contemporary relevance leads to a film that leaves the audience smitten and with a sense of unassuming joy until the very end. The movie carries an undercurrent of satire and uses humor as a tool to depict the trials and tribulations of ordinary people thrown into extraordinary situations. If you're a fan of British comedy or small-town tales that touch on cultural norms with a dose of laughter, ChickLit is well worth a watch.