Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)

Directed by: Mike Leigh
Starring: Sally Hawkins

Sally Hawkins certainly lives up to the title of the film and that much of the film is very refreshing. Her performance carries us throughout the majority of the film that doesn't really create much of a story and with that we are somewhat entertained and satisfied.

However, as the film runs about thirty minutes too long we go from learning about Poppy (Hawkins) to liking Poppy, to pretty much getting the point and basically wanting something significant to happen to Poppy and by the time that something does happen, we realize that there can only be ten to fifteen minutes left and we may ultimately be left unsatisfied.

As I mentioned, its very refreshing to see a genuinely happy person doing her best to make the best out of every situation. So often, there needs to be a catch, or so often when a character is 'happy-go-lucky' all the time, that character is the quirky outcast that drives us nuts. In this film, Hawkins is simply easy to watch. You want good things to happen to her so when they do its refreshing and if nothing else, it makes this a very easy movie to watch.

**1/2