Happy-Go-Lucky on DVD (2008)

lizzi from Chesterfield , 21/05/2008

Really is just about a girl who is overly positive about life and very anoying,,.therefore I rate this film - really rubbish! I don't often walk out of the cinema but I didn't want to waste any more of my life.

  65 out of 66 people found this review helpful

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SaphMB from London [Highly rated reviewer] , 06/08/2008

Happy-Go-Lucky introduces us to Poppy, who regardless of what happens does not cease smiling. Her bike is stolen, her driving instructor is a lunatic, a child in her class is troubled, but does that smile waver? No.

Mike Leigh’s latest work is noticeably more cheerful than his previous film, Vera Drake, but we must be careful not to mark him as a bringer of misery. Leigh dabbled in the comedy genre with Topsy-Turvy, the short film A Sense of History as well as Life is Sweet. However, it can be argued that Mike Leigh’s command of the comedy genre is most apparent in Happy-Go-Lucky, the script is absolutely wonderful particularly when combined with the greatly impressive performances given.

Poppy can at first appear to be rather annoying character. She’s more happy than your average person, she wears some of most the colourful, kooky outfits you’ve ever been privy to , she speaks a lot, at times in a rather crazy vernacular but, despite this, you can’t help but love her. Where could we find such a person you ask? In one of London’s primary schools of course. Poppy is clearly a great teacher of a class of content children and the scenes in the classroom are a joy to watch. One of Poppy’s driving forces appears to be a desire to make other people happy, be it her friends, her pupils or her driving instructor. There are some points within the film where we wonder whether Poppy’s desire to help others is a negative trait. To an extent, it blinds her to some of the dangers she faces, this is obvious in a scene where Poppy, alone, speaks to homeless man in what could be described as industrial wasteland. Does this compromise the realism of the film? Does it make us question the extent to which we respect Poppy as a character? Or does it is simply add to the many layers of our protagonist? Mike Leigh, does not give us the two-dimensional character we see in the adverts. Poppy is complex, self-aware, compassionate and wiser than we know.

Sally Hawkins (winner of the Silver Bear at the Berlin film festival) is mesmerising in her role as Poppy. We give immense amount of credit to actors hen they pull of that strong, powerful, emotional scene often characterised by sorrow or anger. What we seem to forget is how hard it can be to smile for long periods of time. Hawkins smiles in nearly every moment she spends on screen and she clearly gives it her all. She’s really smiling. Hawkins certainly bring Mike Leigh’s script to life and she is completely believable as Poppy.

A core element of the film is not just Poppy as a character but Poppy’s interactions between the people she comes across. The relationship between Poppy and her roommate, Zoë (Alexis Zegerman) is adorable. Their voices complement each other and there is an ongoing feeling that their conversations are going no-where, despite this, you can’t help but enjoy listening to them. Eddie Marsan plays the somewhat psychotic driving instructor, Scott. Scott is Poppy’s complete opposite; miserable, rigid, prejudiced and lets just throw male into it. We slowly become aware that Poppy is not the best person to be around Scott. She appears to be against every he stands for and his agitation around her becomes palpable.

Where the film leaves the audience greatly depends on the viewer. Mike Leigh definitely makes a statement, but it’s up to you decide what you think it is. Happy-Go-Lucky is guaranteed to have you in laughs for the most of the film, it is certainly worth watching, never has it been easier to remain entertained for 118 minutes.

  49 out of 49 people found this review helpful

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tonewife from LONDON , 14/07/2008

i've always enjoyed mike leigh's films before and was looking forward to this new film after reading good reviews. i'm sorry to say it's the most annoying film i've seen in a very long time. the 'happy go lucky' central character is singularly the most irritating person i've ever seen on screen. by about a third of the way in i wanted to scream at her. infuriating at best.

  38 out of 39 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Kent, England , 04/05/2008

in the cinema, there were a lot of different people who had come to see this film. behind us was a couple of OAPs while in front was a dad and her daughter, who looked a lot younger than the rating this film was given.

i did enjoy this film a lot, though it lacked any structure or storyline and seemed to start and end in random places. however, it definitely had enough perks and lifts to keep the movie afloat and i didn't feel at all bored at any moment.

very cute :)

  22 out of 22 people found this review helpful

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Lemming from Cambridge , 19/08/2008

How can the same director who gave us Naked, Life is Sweet, Secrets and Lies, Abigail's Party, Vera Drake, and Nuts in May bring us this? Poppy (whose character is as vapid and irritating as her name) comes across as entirely false. She has a breathy, giggly, expostulatory answer for everything and, most painfully of all, is a primary school teacher, and therefore responsible for our youth! The only thing that subdues her intensely, stupidly, numbingly overwhelming character is a tongue-lashing from emotionally broken man in the penultimate scene of the film. If Poppy was a grotesque like Leigh's Abigail, the weathering of this nearly 120 minute film would be justified, but the four of us couldn't shake off the feeling that Leigh was in some bizarre way applauding this wearisome figure. To use one of Poppy's favourite words - 'Naff, innit? (Titter giggle giggle).'

  11 out of 11 people found this review helpful

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Gemski78 from Manchester , 05/09/2008

I really enjoyed this movie, nothing really happens but Poppy was such a unique character that nothing needs to happen.

  3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

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