CALENDAR Girls is one of those films that you have a knee-jerk reaction to before you've even seen it.

Depending on your persuasion, you probably think it sounds like a wonderfully charming and heart-warming movie that represents the best of British filmmaking or an unbearably twee, parochial film that represents everything you go to the cinema to escape.

If you fall into the latter category, you might want to rethink you prejudices, because this film has got a lot going for it.

One of the best things about it is that despite having Disney behind it, it hasn't been Hollywoodised.

For starters, how often do you see a naked woman in a film who doesn't look as if she's spent her entire life in a gym, only stepping out to chew on a celery stick? The women in this film are real - they're all over 50 and cover the gambit of older women's bodies, from the super fit likes of Celia Emery and Helen Mirren to the decidedly less svelte members of the cast. It's refreshing to be reminded that attractive women come in all shapes and sizes and that you're never too old to celebrate yourself.

The scriptwriters have also resisted the urge to create caricatures for the sake of a more dramatic film. For example, the two central characters, Chris (Mirren) and Annie (Walters) have a bit of a falling out and then get over it, without any dramatic revelations or tear-filled reconciliations.

Which isn't to say that audiences will be tear-free. This is a moving film that will have you reaching for a tissue to discretely blot your eyes. But there's also plenty to laugh about, with the movie gently mocking some of the more bizarre practices of Women's Institute members, such as decorating tea trays and having speakers into their meeting to talk about such things as tea towel collections.

The biggest downside to the film is that it seems to lose its way about two-thirds of the way through and although it's not incredibly long, it begins to drag. Perhaps it's because director Nigel Cole was struggling to fit in the details of a true story but the film feels badly-paced and doesn't seem to know when to stop. The result is that the climax comes some time before the final scene and you may find your interest flagging as the film takes us through what feels life a post-script, detailing what happens after the calendar proves to be a success.

But even with this poor editing, it's still worth making a date in your diary to watch Calendar Girls.

Rating: 7/10