Joy at the London Film Festival review: this IVF drama is heartwarming but unremarkable

It is remarkable that the story of Louise Brown, the world's first 'Test Tube Baby', born of IVF in 1978 has not been told before. But never fear – where there is an uplifting but weepy story to be told, you can be sure someone will soon produce it, and maybe pick up a few Bafta noms.

Last year it was One Life and this year we have Joy, the latest film from the streaming giant Netflix aimed at playing your heartstrings like a banjo.

Sadly what isn't remarkable is the film itself, which is bereft of almost any artistry or filmmaking skill beyond three strong central performances and a script that doesn't harbour any illusions of complexity or depth.

After the most perfunctory of framing devices, we're taken to May 1968 when IVF treatment was still embryonic (forgive the pun). Leading the way is Dr Bob Edwards (a suitably jam jar-bespectacled James Norton) who is testing out fertility treatment on rats: "The noble rodent leads the way".

He soon enlists the help of the precocious Jean Purdy (Thomasin McKenzie) and Dr Patrick Steptoe, a wonderfully dry Bill Nighy who delivers the film's one and only curse word (got to keep this family friendly) with suitable aplomb.

His sweary outburst is directed at a fellow doctor because some of their own colleagues turn against them as the ethical debate over 'test tube babies' rages in the press (cue lots of ghoulish headlines and 'Dr Frankenstein' claims).

The trio is forced to work for 10 years in a disused hospital outbuilding in Oldham for their research and the Medical Research Council, in an especially prickly scene, denies them direct funding.

It means quite a few chats in roadside cafes as Dr Edwards and Jean traipse up and down the country.

It's a missed opportunity that Joy decides to settle for such middle-of-the-road filmmaking. Much of it is as unsubtle as a kick to the head with audience-friendly needle drops at every opportunity and story beats you can set your watch to.

All the characters have their own personal challenges to overcome, none more so than Jean who is told not to attend church due to her work “defying God” (McKenzie might just get one of those award nominations).

If this sounds like an interesting angle, it's little explored. Instead time is spent ticking all the storytelling boxes though it is fun to spot the excellent supporting cast – some of the best British TV has to offer – including Joanna Scanlan (Terri from The Thick of It) asJean's religious mother who ostracises her for this pioneering work, Louisa Holland (Orla from Derry Girls) as one of the infertile mothers and Pip Torrens, of The Crown and Poldark, who enjoys a bristling one-scene cameo.

Joy is precisely the sum of its parts. A heartwarming film that might well disappear into the great Netflix algorithm but if you happen to catch it, make sure you grab a tissue, there's still some joy to be found.

In cinemas on November 15