Happy-Go-Lucky (***1/2)

Screenwriters and directors like to talk about story and character arcs, the processes by which a movie takes its characters and its audience from point A to point B. But Brit Mike Leigh, who is both writer and director, has made a comedy drama that arguably has neither of these. Leigh is best known for downers such as Life Is Sweet (bittersweet, really), Secrets & Lies, and Vera Drake. (To be fair, there was also the rousing Gilbert & Sullivan biopic Topsy-Turvy.) But here the title—and her name—fairly describes Poppy (Sally Hawkins), its main character. She’s chipper at the start and chipper in the end. If there’s a story arc, it’s the one anchored by a series of driving lessons with a humorously bitter instructor, whose no-nonsense demeanor barely discourages her from chatting him up.

Dressed like a box of crayons, in boots, Poppy seemed ditzy at first, but she’s not. What she is is another unique creation by Leigh and actress Hawkins, who is completely believable as the sort of quirky character that can seem artificial in lesser hands, or with a lesser script. (Leigh uses improvised rehearsals to flesh out his characters.) Unlike with most of Leigh’s other films, one character is the center of attention, and Hawkins, though not beautiful, commands it with wide eyes and mouth askew. And big boots. There are a lot of other characters: Poppy’s flatmate; her sisters; her doctor; a homeless guy who shows up for ten minutes, then isn’t seen again. To the homeless guy, she offers food. To the doctor, she offers to text him where it hurts. For a while, you may wonder where it’s all going, before concluding that it doesn’t matter. It’s to the film’s credit that one of the funniest scenes also turns out to be the most touching. No, there’s not much forward movement in the story. The forward momentum comes from the way Leigh and Hawkins bit by bit reveal the layers of her character. Like the driving instructor, our reaction to her changes as the film progresses. I had the thought that Poppy’s further adventures would make a great TV series. But I’ll settle for this.

IMDB link

viewed 10/15/08 [screening at Ritz Bourse]; reviewed 10/21/08