A witty, eloquent script in the hands of an elegant cast under an assured director adds up to a satisfying cinema experience.

Such is the case of GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE, written by Katy Brand, starring Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack and directed by Sophie Hyde.

In GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE Thompson plays Nancy Stokes, a retired, widowed school teacher whose bucket list is a fuck it list.

Nancy’s dearly departed was not a demon in the bedroom, his style nothing more than perfunctory, and she craves good sex. So she hires a sex worker, Leo Grande, to attend her desire, and hopefully achieve the orgasm that has eluded her all her life.

Leo is charming, charismatic, chivalrous, coaxing Nancy out of her nervousness which initially threatens to scuttle the transaction. Her tentativeness is matched by his tenacity.

Nancy discovers that Leo is bright, well read and quite the conversationalist. From communication, comes a form of intimacy long before physical intimacy is embraced. Communication acts as a lubricant, conversation an aphrodisiac. Tongues talk and are then set to other tasks.

A closeness develops, but like all relationships, individual space is needed, and trespass can lead to conflict. Boundaries are breached, hatchets are buried, truth and openness bloom.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE is playful and poignant, intelligently funny and seriously sexy as the characters explore ageism, body image, sex work stigma, scars of the past and hopes for the future. The sex talk is frank and honest, from fornication to fellatio, frustration and expectation.

Thompson and McCormack’s chemistry and repartee is comedy gold ringed with diamond cut drama.

Age cannot wither Thompson nor custom stale her infinite variety. And McCormack exudes a screen presence and performance virtuosity to be reckoned with. If the James Bond franchise is to be continued, may I humbly nominate him as a contender.