***1/2
Mike Leigh has been highly praised for his barebones approach at social class in England with films like Naked and Secrets and Lies. Leigh’s latest film, Happy-Go-Lucky, is a funny, warm-hearted tale about looking on the bright side of life. Poppy (Sally Hawkins) is a plucky, free-spirited kindergarten teacher who always has a smile on her face. When she is faced with stuff that would piss anybody off-like sharing a car with an uptight driving instructor (a very funny Eddie Marsden) or having your bike stolen- she laughs it off and cracks a few jokes with her friends.
Sally Hawkins (Little Britain, Vera Drake) is beautiful and funny in her performance as Poppy. The best way to describe Poppy is like Diane Keaton in Annie Hall, only she’s decked out in Technicolor shirts and tights rather than pantsuits. She’s always being told to take life seriously, but she remains upbeat and independent making her the envy of her family and friends. If only you knew someone who was like that in this serious world.
Leigh has been known for pointing the camera at British desolation and poverty. He remains true to that during an unlikely encounter between Poppy and a schizophrenic pauper. Eddie Marsden also fits in with Leigh’s social realism circle by lecturing Poppy on life’s disappointments and how the end is always around every turn. He channels David Thewlis’ antihero in Naked (minus the misogyny and rape) by explaining that the Washington Monument is symbolic to Satan.
Despite all of the bleakness and harsh views at reality, you will come out of Happy-Go-Lucky feeling happy-go-lucky.
Sally Hawkins (Little Britain, Vera Drake) is beautiful and funny in her performance as Poppy. The best way to describe Poppy is like Diane Keaton in Annie Hall, only she’s decked out in Technicolor shirts and tights rather than pantsuits. She’s always being told to take life seriously, but she remains upbeat and independent making her the envy of her family and friends. If only you knew someone who was like that in this serious world.
Leigh has been known for pointing the camera at British desolation and poverty. He remains true to that during an unlikely encounter between Poppy and a schizophrenic pauper. Eddie Marsden also fits in with Leigh’s social realism circle by lecturing Poppy on life’s disappointments and how the end is always around every turn. He channels David Thewlis’ antihero in Naked (minus the misogyny and rape) by explaining that the Washington Monument is symbolic to Satan.
Despite all of the bleakness and harsh views at reality, you will come out of Happy-Go-Lucky feeling happy-go-lucky.
No comments:
Post a Comment