Sometimes an obviously hokey premise — like a small harbor town seeking to woo a doctor (Taylor Kitsch) by any means necessary — can rise above its broad strokes to achieve a degree of the sublime. Canadian director Don McKellar (Last Night, Blindness) has the wit and darkly comedic sensibilities to tempt and tease a bit of the inspired out of The Grand Seduction and, fortunately, he’s not working alone; his right hand man here would be Brendan Gleeson, as one of the chief townspeople up to his neck in the act of trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the prospective MD. Gleeson is one of those performers who can either bring the bluster and brimstone or simply let the camera soak up the craggy contours of his iconic visage, which should be included as one of the wonders of the world. Opens July 25 at Mariemont Theatre. PG-13. Not screened in time for review
