Happy-Go-Lucky

For the first third of this movie, I wasn't sure how I was supposed to feel about the main character, Poppy. She is always in a good mood and joking around and friendly and caring. But ... and it is a big but ... her constant good cheer is a bit annoying. Was this character going to ride through the whole movie like this? Where was it going?

The second third of the film, I settled in. Things began to really gel. Yes, Poppy is annoying. But the once a week lessons with her angry, racist driving instructor are fascinating to watch. She flirts. She jokes around but doesn't realize how some of her jokes and flirtations are taken. But she's too oblivious in her own silliness to notice. The eventual showdown between the two is startling and of the best scenes of any film I've seen all year.

The last third, it all comes together into brilliance. Poppy isn't immature in the way that the protagonists in Judd Apatow movies are immature but she definitely comes to a deeper realization of who she is and how her actions affect others by the end. The film just kept getting better and better as it built to a completely satisfying realistic conclusion. I shouldn't have doubted Mike Leigh.

Directed by Mike Leigh
2008
Cobble Hill