Lyzsi SinclairHappy-Go-Lucky
Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Director: Mike Leigh
Starring: Sally Hawkins, Alexis Zegerman, Eddie Marsan
We all occasionally have fleeting moments in which we feel unexpectedly giddy with unwarranted happiness, and most of us make an effort to suppress this kooky and child-like behaviour that threatens to bubble out. And everyone knows a person who is so ‘up’ and bubbly as to verge on irritating, even though many of us claim to admire their ‘positive’ outlook. Happy-Go-Lucky could not have been named more appropriately, as its joyous protagonist Poppy dances her way through life with unwavering amiability and a surplus of optimism.
Poppy (Sally Hawkins) tries to engage surly bookshop assistants in conversation, shakes off the reprimands and insults that her driving instructor heaps upon her, and runs around her apartment singing, “I’m so excited!” And while early glimpses at Poppy – such as an inability to allow a shop assistant off the hook when he prefers not to chat, or a drunken night out with the girls – hint at an annoying character, Happy-Go-Lucky plumbs deeper levels and refuses to allow the audience to dismiss Poppy as a chirpy airhead.
The film is, essentially, about nothing. There is no plot to speak of, and no great epiphany or turning point is reached. Happy-Go-Lucky simply offers us a series of vignettes that gradually reveal Poppy and her motivations: we see her taking flamenco lessons, visiting a chiropractor, learning to drive, and working as a primary school teacher. And what we learn about Poppy along the way is that she is not simply over-endowed with joy and affability, but that she is making the same kind of effort that would be required of anyone else in order to maintain this attitude.
Surrounding Poppy is a cast of less bubbly characters: her uptight driving instructor, a school bully, a domineering and unhappy sister, and a lovelorn dancing teacher. While these characters could have been placed simply to highlight Poppy’s happiness, they do also allow different aspects of her character to be revealed with each interaction Poppy has with the angry and depressed people around her. Poppy’s happiness is similarly highlighted by the grey English weather, her small, shared apartment, and the sadly neutral faces of the people she passes on the street or sees on the train each day.
For the most part, Happy-Go-Lucky trips along pleasantly, and provides some light comedy and a warm fuzzy feeling, although Poppy’s kookiness does very occasionally border unsettlingly into Frank Spencer territory. The film also gives us a slightly unfavorable view of Poppy initially by showing her goofing around like a teenager when drunk, and amends must then be made before Poppy can charm the audience. But, thankfully, this is achieved adequately and quickly enough to allow the viewer to want to better understand Poppy.
Although she may sometimes need to make an effort to keep up her smile, Poppy is happy; genuinely happy. But she also shows us that happiness is not a gift, it is an action.
7 out of 10
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Director: Mike Leigh
Starring: Sally Hawkins, Alexis Zegerman, Eddie Marsan
Photo courtesy of Google. Photo may be copyrighted.
We all occasionally have fleeting moments in which we feel unexpectedly giddy with unwarranted happiness, and most of us make an effort to suppress this kooky and child-like behaviour that threatens to bubble out. And everyone knows a person who is so ‘up’ and bubbly as to verge on irritating, even though many of us claim to admire their ‘positive’ outlook. Happy-Go-Lucky could not have been named more appropriately, as its joyous protagonist Poppy dances her way through life with unwavering amiability and a surplus of optimism.
Poppy (Sally Hawkins) tries to engage surly bookshop assistants in conversation, shakes off the reprimands and insults that her driving instructor heaps upon her, and runs around her apartment singing, “I’m so excited!” And while early glimpses at Poppy – such as an inability to allow a shop assistant off the hook when he prefers not to chat, or a drunken night out with the girls – hint at an annoying character, Happy-Go-Lucky plumbs deeper levels and refuses to allow the audience to dismiss Poppy as a chirpy airhead.
The film is, essentially, about nothing. There is no plot to speak of, and no great epiphany or turning point is reached. Happy-Go-Lucky simply offers us a series of vignettes that gradually reveal Poppy and her motivations: we see her taking flamenco lessons, visiting a chiropractor, learning to drive, and working as a primary school teacher. And what we learn about Poppy along the way is that she is not simply over-endowed with joy and affability, but that she is making the same kind of effort that would be required of anyone else in order to maintain this attitude.
Surrounding Poppy is a cast of less bubbly characters: her uptight driving instructor, a school bully, a domineering and unhappy sister, and a lovelorn dancing teacher. While these characters could have been placed simply to highlight Poppy’s happiness, they do also allow different aspects of her character to be revealed with each interaction Poppy has with the angry and depressed people around her. Poppy’s happiness is similarly highlighted by the grey English weather, her small, shared apartment, and the sadly neutral faces of the people she passes on the street or sees on the train each day.
For the most part, Happy-Go-Lucky trips along pleasantly, and provides some light comedy and a warm fuzzy feeling, although Poppy’s kookiness does very occasionally border unsettlingly into Frank Spencer territory. The film also gives us a slightly unfavorable view of Poppy initially by showing her goofing around like a teenager when drunk, and amends must then be made before Poppy can charm the audience. But, thankfully, this is achieved adequately and quickly enough to allow the viewer to want to better understand Poppy.
Although she may sometimes need to make an effort to keep up her smile, Poppy is happy; genuinely happy. But she also shows us that happiness is not a gift, it is an action.
7 out of 10
