(***) out of (*****)
"Happy-Go-Lucky" is the sort of film I expected to be a critically-acclaimed family-friendly tour- de-force into Sally Hawkin's everyday life. What you'll get instead is an independent, not-for- everyone sort of tour-de-force, but still keeping its critical (and public?) acclaim. How did it resonate with me?
A bit overrated. Sure the average IMDb score is a 7, which I'm awarding it, but while I'd give the film a solid 3/4, most are either impeccable or near-impeccable marks (which I can understand), but I feel while being a good film, has its problems.
Let's start off with the good: Without Sally Hawkins, this movie would just fall apart. You take her away and anybody could've made this movie. Well, the cinematography definitely scores some points as this is a BEAUTIFUL movie to look at.
I also liked that the movie really reached its art-house status, most notably when Hawkins interacts with a homeless guy. Lots of subtlety going on in that one, and this is where her character really takes off.
What irked me? The pacing. This is a film that's surprisingly very slow, and it takes a while for you to get used to the main character (since when the title reads "Happy-Go-Lucky", it really delivers upon what it promises). And, maybe this isn't a gripe, but just how depressing that climax was. This film is like eating a piece of cake. It's all sweet, maybe too sweet, and then BAM! It hits you. Yes, the resolution leaves the movie on a positive note, but it's a little too abrupt for you to feel all giddy about yourself again. And also, there were some things left unopened, as the child's past (I thought we could've delved a little deeper into that).
All in all, if you're looking to take a walk away from the real world, see the entire thing, skip the climax, and finish watching at the resolution and it's your money well spent. I can't deny the cinematography is gorgeous and the acting is quite up to par, but the direction left me a little underwhelmed to say the least. While I had my gripes here and there, this is a film that maybe isn't deserving of its full acclaim, but it's at least worth a look.
"Happy-Go-Lucky" is the sort of film I expected to be a critically-acclaimed family-friendly tour- de-force into Sally Hawkin's everyday life. What you'll get instead is an independent, not-for- everyone sort of tour-de-force, but still keeping its critical (and public?) acclaim. How did it resonate with me?
A bit overrated. Sure the average IMDb score is a 7, which I'm awarding it, but while I'd give the film a solid 3/4, most are either impeccable or near-impeccable marks (which I can understand), but I feel while being a good film, has its problems.
Let's start off with the good: Without Sally Hawkins, this movie would just fall apart. You take her away and anybody could've made this movie. Well, the cinematography definitely scores some points as this is a BEAUTIFUL movie to look at.
I also liked that the movie really reached its art-house status, most notably when Hawkins interacts with a homeless guy. Lots of subtlety going on in that one, and this is where her character really takes off.
What irked me? The pacing. This is a film that's surprisingly very slow, and it takes a while for you to get used to the main character (since when the title reads "Happy-Go-Lucky", it really delivers upon what it promises). And, maybe this isn't a gripe, but just how depressing that climax was. This film is like eating a piece of cake. It's all sweet, maybe too sweet, and then BAM! It hits you. Yes, the resolution leaves the movie on a positive note, but it's a little too abrupt for you to feel all giddy about yourself again. And also, there were some things left unopened, as the child's past (I thought we could've delved a little deeper into that).
All in all, if you're looking to take a walk away from the real world, see the entire thing, skip the climax, and finish watching at the resolution and it's your money well spent. I can't deny the cinematography is gorgeous and the acting is quite up to par, but the direction left me a little underwhelmed to say the least. While I had my gripes here and there, this is a film that maybe isn't deserving of its full acclaim, but it's at least worth a look.