Dvd

Happy-Go-Lucky

Happy-Go-Lucky

2008

Well known for his sober, bleak works (think Vera Drake and Naked), master and veteran English director Mike Leigh cranks up the positive with Happy-Go-Lucky; a tale spun from the creative, caring and cheerful life of Poppy (Sally Hawkins, last seen briefly in The Painted Veil).

A thirty-something primary school teacher, single and living with her best friends in London, Poppy is a glass three quarters full kind of gal – loves the children she teaches, likes a dance, cares for her younger sister, takes flamenco and trampoline lessons. You know the type. The film – an observational comedy – follows Poppy as her optimism is tested by life, by an awkward romance with a work mate, and most hilariously by a friendship with her driving tutor Scott (Eddie Marsden). Scott is Poppy’s opposite – an angry, fiery fusspot who treats her lessons very seriously.

Starring Sally Hawkins, Eddie Marsan, Alexis Zegerman, Samuel Roukin, Andrea Riseborough

Directed by Mike Leigh ('Vera Drake', 'All or Nothing', 'Secrets & Lies', 'Naked', 'Life is Sweet')

Written by Mike Leigh

Festivals & Awards Best Actress (Comedy) for Sally Hawkins - Golden Globes 2009. Best Actress for Hawkins - Berlin Film Festival 2008.

Comedy, Drama | 1hr 58mins | Rated (M) | contains violence and offensive language | Origin: UK

Flicks review

  • Like a breath of fresh air, this low-key, funny and sharply observed comedy/drama sparkles with life. Though it wanders off course from time to time, director Mike Leigh weaves a laidback yet compelling charm, and showcases two of the finest, most natural performances in ages.

    Poppy is a wonderful character - a thirty something primary school teacher driven by a sunny outlook (a rare treat, in these crazy hazy cynical times) - nailed by Sally Hawkins’ brave delivery. She doesn’t shy away from the fact (perhaps a sad one) that a lot of people find such bubbly-ness annoying as hell, nor do you perceive a naivety. It ain’t easy being happy, and Poppy is endearing and admirable for trying.

    Aside from the odd performance that fails to match Hawkins, overall the support cast are fantastic – most notably Zegerman as best friend Zoe and Riseborough as little sister Dawn. But it’s only with Eddie Marsan, playing driving instructor Scott, that Hawkins really meets her match. Scott is her opposite – bitter, serious, conspiracy theorist, and barely able to suppress his spite. Their bickering is brilliant and nearly non-stop. Scott rules the lesson with an iron fist, trying to enforce ridiculous methods and insisting Poppy take the task seriously. Poppy isn’t willing to for his benefit, perhaps hopeful that he will lighten up. These scenes are hilarious; it’s the most memorable pairing in any film this year.

    We are presented not with an over-arching plot, but rather character driven vignettes circling Poppy and her life in North London. A film without the pressing of a hard narrative can easily flounder, but Leigh relishes it. He engages the audience instead by making the characters so particular and truthful that one can’t help but be interested in their fortunes. This is rare and, when done as well as it is here, is a refreshing change from the norm.

    Leigh is giving the film room to breathe. Some viewers may find it too loose, but combined with the film’s gentle message and the crackling chemistry of the leads, this is Happy-Go-Lucky’s allure.

    By Paul Scantlebury, Flicks.co.nz

 Our Rating       4

The Peoples voice

  •  1

    Didn't think it was possible to make a movie this bad. ...

    By ROGER HARRISON

  • whats it all about?

     3

    Quite good. sold performances.a bit of a change.

    By kate k

  • loved it!

     4

    All you folk who gave this movie one star need to stick to seeing Will Smith 'blockbusters' as movies like this are not for you! My husband and I and our 12 year old son really enjoyed this. We thought it was very funny. In fact I'm going again with a friend tomorrow. Not quite up there with 'Secrets and Lies' possibly, but a good Mike Leigh movie nonetheless.

    By karen

  • What is This Woman ON?

     2

    There are probably people like the lead of this rather patchy comedy in real life . . . Probably after being released into ciommunity care; If there was ever a person who viewed the world witha false sense of optimism it was this woman. Admittedly, those around here are equally bad in their own ways, and some of the optimism she spews outtward like a wayward fountian would improve them, but the flim fails to show that with any depth.

    Add to this some telegraphed jokes, contrived situations and typically ropy CGI effects and you have a comdely that has only one redeeming feature; No Americans, and especially no Eddie Murphy.

    By D F Stuckey

  • warm and funny

     5

    Saw this with my dad last night and it is a warm/funny human interest story. Intriguing scenes with the driving instructer and Poppy's flatmate/friends. I would easily see again with a drink and some other people

    By Ken Burns

  • Interesting

     4

    All you people giving this a one-star review are insane! Save your one stars for Jessica Alba horrors or Ashton Kutcher comedies. This is an unusual, but fresh film which deserves a more thoughtful response.

    Put this in perspective. It's not a mainstream multiplex bland comedy. It's an arthouse film at heart. If it seems strange, thank god for that. At least it has a strong flavour. Good on you Mike Leigh, keep making films for people like me.

    By Luke

  • Excellent.

     4

    I'm suprised at the negative reviews below... whilst this is a bit different, and as Flicks review says - quite free flowing, i thought it was refreshing, very natural and realistic, and very funny.

    I don't think everyone would like it, but I wouldn't let these reviews put you off at all!

    By K Pamilion

  • So Bad - don't go

     1

    Its visually appealing, very colourful, but these characters belong on a 5 minute segment of 60 Minutes. Annoying lead, under drawn supporting staff and nutter driving instructor. There you have the plot, don't bother going.

    By Pam B

  • Shocker

     1

    Didn't think it was possible to make a movie this bad.
    Feeble story line and a lead character to drive you nuts.
    Great cure for insomnia.

    By Keith

  • Nothing Happy Go Lucky about this film

     1

    Like Michelle Kelly below, we chose this movie based on a review seen in the Thursday 12th June paper prior to the Sunday film on the 15th. I notice that review has changed somewhat since. So it was almost FALSE ADVERTISING. This film was described as a Comedy - there were some comedic moments but for the most part it was a dour comedy about peoples' perceptions on life and not at all happy go lucky. We felt ripped off!!!!!!!!!! and it was a big let down from the same director of Secrets & Lies.

    By Dee Stewart

  • Happy Go Lucky

     1

    One of the worst movies I've had to endure. The plot was non existant and the story went nowhere. We choose to see this movie as it had good reviews in the paper but we were bitterly disappointed and failed to see the humour. I rate this a shocker.

    By Michelle Kelly

  • Funny, low key and charming

     3

    If Poppy is nailed by Sally hawkins, Flicks has again nailed it with "Some viewers may find it a bit to lose".
    Anyway, not all bad, worth a look.

    By brian

  • Great characters

     4

    I understand how some people could get annoyed with Poppy's unflappably optimistic personality, but the undiluted strength of her character is quite impressive. I loved the relationship between her and the grumpy driving instructor, and found their final confrontation quite powerful. There are many funny moments, particularly with Poppy's husband-in-law - a poor hen-pecked man if ever there was. Rick below is completely wrong, I agree with the Flicks review. This is worth seeing if you like character-based comedy/drama.

    By Andy

  • Snore fest

     1

    A movie about someone with a bubbly personality but not much else
    You begin to ask yourself why am I here and how much longer can I take this. You must be able to find something better to see or do

    By Rick

 Collective Voice    0000000000002.50

Your review has been posted, you have spoken, and for that we thank you. – Ed.

Tell us all that is right or wrong with this flick:

  • 1 2 3 4 5

Press Reviews

  • BBC

    4 4 out of 5 stars

    Anyone who saw the magnificent, but magnificently depressing Vera Drake might be bracing themselves for another Mike Leigh downer – but Happy-Go-Lucky is anything but. The director's new film is a charming character study starring Sally Hawkins as a quirky, chirpy primary school teacher, Poppy, who delights in teasing her new driving instructor and living life to the full. An improvisational comedy drama, it's very funny and establishes Hawkins as a major talent to watch.
    Click to read the full review

  • Christchurch Press [Margaret Agnew]

    4 4 out of 5 stars

    There's some great natural-feeling, seamless acting here, which may be down to the intensive rehearsal period Leigh favours. After numerous over-processed sugar-coated Hollywood romantic-comedies, Happy-Go-Lucky has a very real taste that's refreshing.
    Click to read the full review

  • Empire Magazine [UK]

    4 4 out of 5 stars

    Mike Leigh draws a bravura performance out of Sally Hawkins, and she in return makes Poppy one of Leigh’s best characters yet - up there with the likes of Vera Drake or Beverly from Abigail’s Party.
    Click to read the full review

  • Hollywood Reporter

    As breezy as the title suggests, the film is about as far as can be imagined from such bleak Leigh classics as "Vera Drake" and "Naked." Spun from the cheerful life of its central character -- a smart, confident, goofball primary school teacher named Poppy (Hawkins) -- the film shares her optimism without being at all syrupy or sentimental. Hawkins, who starred to great effect in a recent British television remake of Jane Austen's "Persuasion," is a marvel with her urchin looks and irresistible smile. She makes Poppy unforgettable.
    Click to read the full review

  • NZ Herald [Peter Calder]

    4 4 out of 5 stars

    A couple of hours in Poppy's company will deal to the most stubborn case of the winter blues. "You can't please everybody," Zoe tells her, but she's not listening. "There's no harm in trying," she replies.
    Click to read the full review

  • TV3 [Kate Rodger]

    4 4 out of 5 stars

    Mike Leigh's vision is completely realised through Sally Hawkins performance, she's on screen for pretty much the entire film, and her support cast of friends and family, and her sad, fear-riddled and increasingly loathsome driving instructor, complete the picture.
    Click to read the full review

  • Variety [UK]

    Effervescent comedy offers a lighthearted slice of life seen through eyes of a free-spirited London schoolteacher, replete with lessons of various sorts and humorous comparisons of teaching methods. Less pointed and edgy than anything in Leigh’s oeuvre except “Career Girls,” it still gets by on its own diverting charms.
    Click to read the full review

Search For a DVD

I beg your pardon?

  • Flicks.co.nz is serving the great nation of NZ with all things cinematic. Question about a movie or cinema? Thoughts on the site? Quips, gripes, advice for our own personal self-development?
  • Get in touch with us by email at ED@ FLICKS.CO.NZ,on TWITTER oron FACEBOOK.

Win Yourself

Trailers

Flicks.co.nz is a Flicks.co.nz Ltd production, starring:

...and an unashamed love of the movies.
Flicks.co.nz's official rating: Pretty good, but not perfect.

Disclaimer: Greetings. Flicks.co.nz is produced by Flicks.co.nz Ltd. © all information except that which specifically pertains to included cinemas, movies, competitions or advertisers. We do our darnedest to ensure all film, cinema & session time information on Flicks.co.nz is accurate. But pobody's nerfect, and Flicks.co.nz Ltd nor any advertiser accepts liability for information that may be inaccurate. For more information view our Terms & Conditions.
Mobile Site | iPhone App | Flicks on Facebook | Flicks on Twitter | Content Supply & Advertising |  Site built by Pixel Fusion |  Site designed by Impero

We're gonna need a bigger boat