Walking On Sunshine, film review: Cheery and inane romcom could double-up as an ad for Puglia's tourist board

(12A) Max Giwa, Dania Pasquini, 97 mins Starring: Annabel Scholey, Hannah Arterton, Leona Lewis, Greg Wise

Leona Lewis and Hannah Arterton in 'Walking on Sunshine'

Walking on Sunshine is relentlessly cheery and inane fare – a romcom with song-and- dance sequences thrown in to the mix in random fashion, all accompanied by hit 1980s songs from Wham, The Human League and others.

The setting is scenic Puglia, where, three years ago, demure young Taylor (Hannah Arterton, Gemma's younger sibling) had a holiday affair with bronzed local lad Raf (Giulio Berruti).

Now, her sister Maddie (Annabel Scholey), recently dumped by the oleaginous Doug (Greg Wise), has had a whirlwind romance of her own with Raf and is planning to marry him.

With its eye-popping colours, the film has the look of a commercial made by the local tourist board. Leona Lewis of X Factor fame is largely wasted as the sisters' loyal friend Elena.

There is a hint of desperation in the smiles the characters all seem to have affixed permanently to their faces during the musical sequences. The film-makers (who also directed Streetdance) strike a frantic tempo but Walking on Sunshine is still often like treading through treacle.

At least, Arterton and Scholey show plenty of charm and energy as the sisters.