MOVIE REVIEW

If it's small and British, it must be an inspirational working-class drama.

By Carina Chocano, Times Staff Writer

If it's small and British, it must be an inspirational working-class drama in the vein of "The Full Monty" and "Billy Elliot." Gaby Dellal's "On a Clear Day" tells the story of Frank Redmond (Peter Mullan), a Glasgow shipbuilder who decides to swim the English Channel after being laid off.

Since suffering a tragedy two decades earlier, gruff Frank hovers at an emotional remove from his sweet wife, Joan (Brenda Blethyn), and his sensitive stay-at-home-dad son, Rob (Jamie Sives), who consistently rebuffs his father's awkward attempts at rapprochement. What's a man to do if his son won't have coffee with him and his wife has a secret? Tackle a vast, frigid metaphor, that's what.

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After a few dispiriting attempts at finding employment, Frank turns to local fish and chips merchant Chan (Benedict Wong) and his shipyard friends Eddie (Sean McGinley), Norman (Ron Cook) and son-figure Danny (Billy Boyd) to help him train. To them, at least, he's a hero. Sweet-natured, if somewhat familiar, "On a Clear Day" features fine performances by Mullan, Blethyn and Sives. Dellal and cinematographer David Johnson paint an inviting picture of Glasgow.

"On a Clear Day," Rated PG-13 for some language. Running time 1 hour, 39 minutes. Exclusively at the Grove Cinemas, 189 the Grove Drive (323) 692-0829; Westside Pavilion Cinemas, 10800 Pico Blvd. at Overland Avenue, (310) 281-8223; Edwards South Coast Village, 1561 W. Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana (714) 540-1970.