Doc Martin and the Legend of the Cloutie

Before the TV series "Doc Martin" debuted in 2004, there were three movies that featured the Doc Martin character. However, oddly, when the character was converted to a TV series character, his back story was pretty much rewritten and his personality changed dramatically. So, you almost have to think of them as entirely different and totally separate- -same name but otherwise quite different.

"Doc Martin and the Legend of the Cloutie" is very different from the previous movie because the plot seems to meander quite a bit and seems a bit silly. Now I am not saying it's bad--but it really never really takes itself very seriously and has a far different mood from the previous film.

It begins with Doc going with a Realtor to see a farm that is for sale. The place is a dilapidated mess but inexplicably he offers to buy the place. Only moments later, a family shows up and they, too, want to buy the place. However, the wife is a totally disagreeable jerk and bribes the agent to sell her the place instead--even though Doc had already agreed to buy the place! In addition, the woman is so unpleasant that Doc feels he has to do something...even if it's very stupid (which it turns out to be).

Simultaneous to this plot are two others. One involves two of the locals who are in the smuggling business. However, a couple federal agents suspect something and are mucking about town trying to uncover the crime. Another is about a couple women who are practicing Wiccans and how all this fits together with Doc Martin's problems is, well, quite bizarre.

The bottom line is that you do NOT see this film because it makes a lot of sense, you watch it because you like the characters--and they are very likable and quirky. Enjoyable but more slight than the previous installment--especially the ending.

I wish this movie were part of a set of 3 with Saving Grace instead of being automatically tied to the TV series. The only thing the movie has in common with the series is the setting of a Cornish village and the star. The character is entirely different. Dr Bamford does have a snobbish outsider view of the villagers and their odd beliefs but this movie is about him becoming a villager in their eyes and in his own mind as they unite to oppose custom agents.

The movie seems to start out all over the place but it all ties together when it ends. I like that the movie has a light mystery feel to it similar to the first Doc Martin movie. The medical aspects of Martin being the GP of the village is irrelevant to the plot instead of being a key to it. I can understand why lovers of the TV series hate the movie but that's why I wish this weren't so tied to it. It is a totally different story.

This Doc Martin is a far cry from the one in the series, but I did enjoy the sights and the quirky locals, who again do not have much in common with specific supporting characters in the series, but I liked seeing some familiar faces.

I do remember Martin Clunes saying Doc Martin becomes ruder and ruder with each season, so it makes sense that he started as a relatively normal person who is capable of decent socializing. The series Doc Martin though is awfully amusing and they infused tons of quirkiness. This is almost like a parallel universe Doc Martin. Didn't mind it though. It was short and sweet.

Another outing for the original Doc Martin Bamford character, the Dr. Nice Guy of "Saving Grace" and a follow-up TV movie, not the sharper-edged Doc Martin Ellingham of the TV series. "Cloutie" makes good use of the Celtic Fringe folklore of Cornwall; the flimsy plot doesn't matter much—encouraged by the village wise woman (Pam Ferris), Doc Martin dabbles in the dark arts and sides with the goodhearted local smugglers against a pair of nasty customs agents. Reminiscent of Stephen Fry's "Kingdom," this one's pretty slight but thoroughly entertaining. Haven't seen "Saving Grace," but anything with "Doc Martin" in the title is decidedly worth watching. If you haven't seen the series (now mostly available on streaming NF and Amazon), I'd start with that.

We got hooked on Doc Martin when the first two seasons were offered on Netflix -- love the Cornish landscape and love the slightly scruffy and very quirky denizens of this corner of England. Imagine my surprise when I found out that there were two films previous to the series, and finally sat down to watch them. The first was really cute -- it was nice to see the Doctor not so crusty and more human than he is in the series, but the second one absolutely cracked me up. Nicely plotted, so many subtle digs at stereotypical Londoners, but not so stereotypical that they were trite. Loved the magical moments, and the last scene just ties everything up in a big bow -- I fell off the couch laughing, happy to leave the Doc with things perfectly in order (for Cornwall). A very feel-good movie, and well worth watching twice.