Happpy-Go-Lucky - Mike Leigh

[Helen D]

Went to see 'Happy-Go-Lucky'. I love Mike Leigh films; always full of intense, deep, flawed characters who could be the people living just next door to you.In 'Happy-Go-Lucky' a primary school teacher, known as Poppy (played by Sally Hawkins) seems to have a smile tattooed to her face and has a permanently positive attitude to go with it. She enjoys life to the full and tries to help those dealt a less fortunate hand, though her attentions are not always welcome.It is a very sweet and charming film and although it may sound saccharine sweet, it certainly wasn't. Mike Leigh has introduced Scott, the driving instructor from hell (Eddie Marsan) to balance the film and remind anyone watching what a master of the study of human nature he is.Positively enjoyable - and you can't in all honesty say that about many of Leigh's films, brilliant though they are.