Review of “Happy Go Lucky”
For fans of British writer-director Mike Leigh (who made Secrets & Lies, Naked and Vera Drake) Happy Go Lucky will be a real treat. It’s a life-affirming film driven by the strong performances that Leigh always extracts from his cast, but this time dipped in good-natured humour. If you’ve always found Mike Leigh’s work a bit too far on the pessimistic side of real, this story - of an irrepressible optimist named Poppy (Sally Hawkins) - might just change your perspective of the director. It’s definitely his most accessible and entertaining film to date. If you’ve never seen a Mike Leigh film, this is the one to start with.
Poppy is a raggedy thirty-something schoolteacher who shares a flat in London with best friend and colleague Zoe (Alexis Zegerman). Despite the setbacks that happen in her distinctly ordinary existence, Poppy sees the good in everything. There’s a steady stream of life that comes her way –the theft of her bike, the absence of a boyfriend, the difficulties of bullying in the classroom, and the pent-up hatred of the system that obsesses her dysfunctional driving instructor Scott (Eddie Marsden). We watch as the ridiculously positive and brightly dressed Poppy slides through these slices of her life, steadily revealing that behind her cheery façade is a cheery soul.
Sally Hawkins picked up a Silver Bear award for Best Actress at the Berlin Film Festival for this role, and it’s her work - from opening scene to closing - that makes this film what it is. How easy it would have been for Poppy’s overly friendly behaviour, incessant banter and fidgety jokes to have become horribly annoying or embarrasing . Yet Hawkins – under Leigh’s careful eye – is so genuine and so warm with her portrayal that I defy anyone not to fall for her by the time the gently wafting narrative reaches its conclusion. Eddie Marsden as the tightly wound driving instructor, Alexis Zegerman as the serene flat mate, and Karina Fernandez as the passionate flamenco teacher are all perfect foils for the childlike chirpiness of Poppy. Marsden in particlar gives an outstanding performance, simulaneously spitting venom on the world and issung the most ludicrous instructions to Poppy about how to drive.
Leigh – with a background as an actor and theatre director - continues to demonstrate how best to bring character driven, actor orientated stories to the big screen.
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