Happy-Go-Lucky (2008) User Reviews (226)

Wisdom, not naivety

[DaSchaust · 8/10 · 12 July 2008]

Having read some critiques to the extent that this was a film about a naive, childish woman who refused to take life seriously, I was hesitant whether I'd be able to bear this movie.

Luckily, it turned out to be one of the most entertaining cinema experiences since quite a long time.

Poppy isn't the person refusing to become an adult which her misanthropic driving instructor Scott accuses her to be. Our time indeed seems to bring about such people but they could hardly be more different than this lovely young woman. The first scene, with the girls drunk and chatting nonsense, is perhaps a bit misleading on this issue. (In fact, several people left the cinema during this scene, seemingly annoyed of all the giggling.) Rather, Poppy is wise and strong, trying to see the positive in everyone and everything. Humour, and sometimes benign derision, are her ways of keeping sulkiness out of her life. But, as everyone with a heart should feel, that is a gift, not a deficit. What damage can it cause to have a nice word or a smile for your fellow humans? On the other hand, she doesn't shut her eyes on the sad sides of life, such as a traumatized homeless man or a boy beaten by his mother's new partner, and one understands that she is deeply sad about not being able to help Scott, even if she would have had every reason to simply hate him for his bad temper, his racism and his stalking.

The director has done a superb job with this production; it is packed with intelligent, witty dialogs and convincingly drawn characters.

Our world needs a lot more people like Poppy, or at least -- if they don't possess her strength and optimism -- people who are sympathetic with her values instead of feeling threatened by humaneness. Yes, life is difficult and often sad, so let's tackle it with a smile!

Maybe the world is too much for even the most dedicated optimist?

[seawalker · 7/10 · 23 April 2008]

Some UK critics have been saying that "Happy-Go-Lucky" is the happiest and most cheerful movie that Mike Leigh has ever made. Well, I don't know if I would exactly agree with that. It is and it isn't.

Sally Hawkins' primary school teacher Poppy is, indeed, a very happy individual. Annoyingly happy, insanely cheerful, depressingly optimistic and psychotically 'Up!', most of the time. It is a tribute to Sally Hawkins performance that, once you get past the initial irritation with her, you completely fall in love with Poppy, her goodness, her openness and, yes, her simple niceness.

Then there is Eddie Marsan's driving instructor Scott. Scott is the very antithesis of happy. Scott is rigid, angry, frustrated, impatient, knotted up and racist. A borderline OCD sufferer, who is tortured by who-knows-what in his past. Scott is the most bitter and overwhelming character in a Mike Leigh film since David Thewlis' Johnny in "Naked". It is a towering performance by Eddie Marsan.

If Poppy is the light, Scott is definitely the dark, but it seemed to me that dark shadows inhabit the whole of "Happy-Go-Lucky". The unhappy schoolboy, the glum Sister, the other sister - a social climber who dominates her husband. Little vignettes of irritation and annoyance. Typical Mike Leigh.

"Happy-Go-Lucky" is a really good film, if you stick with it. I liked the way that Poppy does stop smiling towards the end. Maybe the world is too much for even the most dedicated optimist?

Whatever she's on, I'll have a double, please

[starvin4megravy · 7/10 · 10 July 2008]

Mike Leigh's done it again ... for fans and detractors alike! Poppy, his latest creation, sails through this slice of life with a smile on her face, fun on her mind and kindness in her heart.

Irritating? I didn't think so. On my good days, I rather hope there's a little of her in me.

For me, she was quite brilliantly brought to life by the excellent Sally Hawkins. Ironically, if she calls to mind any other inhabitant of Planet Leigh then it's probably Jane Horrocks's rather more sour Nic (or was it Nat?) in Life Is Sweet.

And Poppy has much to be happy about. A true friend, with whom she shares a not-too-shabby flat in a Finsbury Park that I shall not stoop to comparing with the N4 district of my own experience. A job she was born to do, among supportive colleagues. An enjoyable social life, memories of travels past, a cool reetro bike (for a while, at least ... ) and a wardrobe straight out of (ahem!) an Australian's nightmare all go to emphasise the message given by the film's title.

Into her life ambles driving instructor Scott, played by the ever-welcome Eddie Marsan, and the real fun begins. If Poppy can be said to stroll across the surface of life's duckpond without even getting the soles of her cowboy boots wet, then Scott is a man slowly drowning. The film's strongest plot line (this *is* Mike Leigh!) charts the evolving relationship between these apparent opposites,and the interplay really lights up the screen.

To say more would dent your enjoyment should you decide to go and see for yourself! If you go by bike, remember to lock up securely or - better still - maybe your best friend will take you along in her "mad" yellow car.

However you get there, why not let Poppy's attitude infect you for a few hours after you leave? It probably will anyway ...

A cheerful film with an underlying vein of tragedy

[lexo1770 · 9/10 · 1 May 2008]

Happy-Go-Lucky has been reviewed in the British press as a relatively lightweight Mike Leigh movie, but I'm not so sure. The story revolves around Sally Hawkins' remarkable performance as primary school teacher Poppy Cross, a highly unusual character in that Hawkins and Leigh between them manage to make her consistently cheerful and optimistic without being either naive or irritating. Poppy is presented as both relentlessly cheery and, on another level, remarkably intuitive; throughout the film, she has a series of encounters with troubled male figures (a boy in her class who has started bullying, a very strange homeless Irishman and, above all, her phenomenally uptight driving instructor Scott) and in all of them, Poppy's liveliness and friendly curiosity about other people is seen to be a powerful counter to male self-pity, anger and despair.

Hawkins' character is not someone who is inclined to let life get her down, so it's just as well that she is surrounded by people with a somewhat more sardonic or downbeat take on reality. Her flatmate Zoe (Alexis Zegerman, very good) is a wonderfully dry and sarky counter to Poppy's enthusiasm, although the affection between them is palpable. Poppy's younger sisters Suzy and Helen are also quite different; Suzy is a law student who is more interested in clubbing, drinking and playing with her brother-in-law's Playstation than in criminal justice, while Helen is heavily pregnant, obsessed with acquiring the trappings of a respectable suburban life and unable to understand how her older sister can be so happy living in a rented flat and not stepping onto the property ladder.

The big surprise for me is that I had been led to believe that this is a more or less straightforward feelgood film. It isn't. Scott, Poppy's driving teacher (Eddie Marsan), is the most affecting character in it, and one of the greatest and most unforgettable characters in Leigh's oeuvre. Most of the reviews I've read of the film depict Scott as a hateful, sinister or otherwise despicable character, but although it's true that he is an uptight, judgmental, angry bigot, it is also perfectly clear from his first appearance that he doesn't know what he's talking about and that he is driven by emotional problems that he hasn't even begun to get a handle on. Marsan's extraordinary performance is one of the best things I've seen on film for a long time. Scott has been afflicted with very bad teeth and a mild speech defect (he can't really say the letter 'r') and although his inner anger and bigotry is played for laughs for a lot of the film, in the end it is allowed to blossom forth in a riveting scene where his fury, jealousy and terror of his own darkness spill forth in a heartbreaking and riveting torrent. If part of the point of art is to help us to understand people we would otherwise have little sympathy with, then this film is a work of art. I've never seen Marsan before but he deserves awards for this movie, no question.

Happy-Go-Lucky is a highly enjoyable and often very funny film, but it also carries terrible sadness. I have never been a massive fan of Mike Leigh, but lately I have to admit that I was wrong. He just seems to get better and better.

This is quite the "love it or hate it" movie.

[eddax · 7/10 · 27 May 2009]

I think most of us know a person who is perpetually happy and optimistic, and so annoyingly so that you resent them for being happy when you're not, and you consciously or unconsciously try to smash their rose-tinted glasses. I would add a "or maybe that's just me" but Happy-Go-Lucky is the story of such a person, and how she affects everyone around her.

Gawd, Poppy's annoying. This is quite the "love it or hate it" movie depending on whether you're more like her or like the angry and negative driving instructor she antagonizes with her cheerfulness. But as long as you can hold down the bile, it can be fascinating to watch her interact with the spectrum of people she encounters, since they all fall at various points between her and the instructor. From tolerant, to accepting, to nonchalant, to envious, they run the gamut and it's pretty easier to associate with one of them.

At first I thought Sally Hawkins' performance was going to be one shrill note throughout the movie, but no, there are fortunately moments of quiet drama too. In any case, I have to admire someone who can act so constantly cheerful without any traces of irony. I find Mike Leigh's movies quite hard to sit through, since they're usually about people and their interactions, and to appreciate the movies you have to strive to understand their people. Patience and understanding are not qualities I have in copious amounts; I generally prefer characters that I automatically empathize with.

This movie is a rare oddity in that it annoyed me and yet it was still a good watch. It's a movie that I would recommend to people but lordy, I don't wanna watch it again.

Poppy is the whole film and I found her disingenuous and irritating

[bob the moo · 18 August 2013]

When this film came out my girlfriend said she wanted to see it because she'd heard good things. After much time waiting for her to be in the mood for it, I eventually queued it up when by myself and I am glad I did as she would have truly hated this film. The plot (as light as it is) is about a 30-year-old woman who is as cheerful and perky as the day is long. She hangs out with her friends, she meets a guy, she learns how to drive and in all these things we see her infectious sense of happiness. There isn't much more to this and I do not thing I have seen a film that depends so totally on whether or not you like the main character.

I said she is infectious but then so are many diseases and to be honest I found Poppy to be as enjoyable. Her character is the type to speak to strangers, to constantly have a zany remark, to be the one making a spectacle of herself and so on. Of course her being the polar opposite of me didn't help, but I found nothing to make me question myself here and on the contrary I spent much of the film wondering if Polly isn't suffering from some sort of mental illness. The majority of the film sees Poppy in full-on zany mood, mostly in collaboration with others but occasionally contrasting her with a dull married couple and her driving instructor, who carries all of his anger with him all the time. When the film is letting Poppy just be herself I found it tiresome. As a character she says nothing real and everything is a little joke or witty episode. It is only the contrast where she comes out and I think there is really only one or two moments in the film where I felt a real person had come out of Poppy.

The cast are mixed and not in a goo way. Hawkins got lots of praise of this performance but I thought it was terrible. In one or two scenes she lets the façade drop so we see her at her most real. I loved these moments but the downside of them was that we then know the rest is a façade and not her really. Her acting involves cheeky mockney dialogue and little else. Marsan is much better. His rage and anger is convincing and his performance works well next to the moments when Hawkins is not OTT cheerful. The supporting cast is OK but really it is Hawkins' film and this is something to keep in mind.

Whether you like this film or not depends very much on liking Poppy. You may find her freewheeling color to be charmingly quirky but for me she used it as a barrier to any real discussion or humanity and she struck me as disingenuous throughout the film. The moments where she drops the wisecracks and zaniness and lets something like empathy or concern for others come through are great, but they are few and far between.

The Age Of Wisdom

[marcosaguado · 9/10 · 7 October 2008]

An optimistic tale from Mike Leigh of all people. This is one of those films in which everything comes gloriously together. It is impossible to imagine it without Sally Hawkins. This is one case in which actress and character merge into one spectacular creation. In fact Sally Hawkins in Happy Go Lucky and Melissa Leo in Frozen River are the two best female performances I've seen in a long, long time. Sally Hawkins's Poppy is a teacher a wise, compassionate, strong, extraordinary teacher. She seems totally unaware of it but we are not. All she knows is that she loves her job. That feeling, if true, can be very contagious. We fall for her not because some kind of gimmick but because her truth precedes her and we learn to know her and respect her almost immediately. As if this wasn't enough, she's very, very, funny.

Good... But failed to hit the mark (for me)...

[cat_ranchero · 6/10 · 13 July 2012]

Well made with, as is usual for a Mike Leigh film, the actors taking centre stage and as such it's a very performance-driven piece. Sally Hawkins did a great job as Poppy, although I didn't much like her character, I thought she played it well. For me, the star of the show was Eddie Marsan as Scott; a much more complex and interesting character played with great aplomb. The supporting cast; Alexis Zegerman as Zoe, Sylvestra Le Touzel as Heather and Kate O'Flynn as Suzy were all very good.

A film that seemed to be made up of scenes that didn't really relate to each other particularly well. One minute she's going trampolineing, the next its flamenco and then there's a very interesting scene with a tramp, although I did enjoy some of the flamenco scenes too. The only thing that seems to tie her, seemingly chaotic, life together is the driving lessons with Scott; of which we don't see enough (IMO). Over all, a film that did have its moments but ultimately fell a bit wide of the mark for me.

My Score 6.4/10

IMDb Score: 7.0/10 (based on 21,275 votes at the time of going to press).

MetaScore: 84/100: (Based on 34 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes 'Tomatometer' Score: 93/100 (based on 151 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes 'Audience' Score: 65/100 'Liked It' (based on 32,911 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).

You can find an expanded version of this review on my blog: Thoughts of a SteelMonster.

Another Excellent Mike Leigh Vignette

[FiveHundredFlicks · 8/10 · 14 April 2008]

In this latest movie from Mike Leigh we are introduced to the very sweet Poppy. Poppy is a teacher, a good laugh, a bit of a loon and a really annoying person all rolled into one but try as you might you won't hold that against her. She is an unexpectedly cute cross between Michaela Strachan and Frank Spencer. Thankfully, there's no beret but there are plenty of knockabout gags which, when coupled with Poppy's infectious giggling and quick asides, had the audience laughing along quite genuinely. Characters come and go throughout the movie with an especially good performance from Stanley Townsend, but it's Eddie Marsan who gives the stand out performance in the movie with his darkly obsessive narratives and non sequiturs which expose his sinister persona. The rest of the cast are also splendid, they all fit in just right to make this a very watchable and enjoyable movie. Even the two dimensional characters have good aspects for which they are easily forgiven. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending people to this movie, my only complaint being that it was over too soon. I could have watched how the characters developed for another day or two and I guess that's down to the fascination with the ordinary which Mike Leigh builds into his films.

A good light comedy, which depends a lot on the main character.

[filipemanuelneto · 6/10 · 10 May 2021]

Films with positive and uplifting themes are currently desirable. We need, as a society, instruments to convey this kind of messages and allow us to be better and act better. And this film is very good, engaging, cheerful and inspiring.

The script is undoubtedly one of its main strengths: original, creative, positive and lively, it revolves around Poppy, a primary school teacher who insists on looking at life on the positive side, always showing happiness, with a smile on his face and a joke on the tip of his tongue. She is one of those people who would be able to raise the morale of a funeral and who does good to all the surrounding people, starting with the small revolted child and ending with the bitter and permanently unsympathetic driving instructor.

The main problem with all this is that the success of the film depends largely on how the viewer accepts the character. People who, like me, sympathize with her, will see and probably like the film, while people who are irritated by her permanent joy and inability to take anything seriously will probably leave the theater on the first half hour. In fact, just as there are many people who like to see the bright side of life, there are also a lot of people for whom this is unacceptable, it is taking the seriousness of serious matters and making life a joke. Another important problem with this film, for me, is its slow pace and excessive length. When I saw the film, I felt that the story told dragged on at several moments, and it did not justify two hours length. There are several scenes that, on the editing table, could have been shortened without damaging the film, shortening it by about half an hour.

The cast is good and does a nice job. Of course, Sally Hawkins is the actress who carries the film with a well-made performance, which can be viewed in many ways. In fact, if we want, we can observe the work of the actress and question Poppy's psychology: if it is true that there are a lot of people who use her contagious joy to hide very hard bitterness or severe depressions, we can question how far Poppy is happy and if her joy was not also a psychological defensive mechanism. There are moments when the character reveals a more serious, sensitive side, and these are nuances that the actress knew how to explore. Eddie Marsan makes a good counterpoint in the role of Scott, the driving instructor, and offers us interesting film work around dislike and anger.

Technically, the film is quite regular and does not bring us anything truly remarkable, except for a few details, such as the discreet use of a good soundtrack, the realistic sets and the colorful and cheerful costume of Poppy, which displays everything what the character is inside. The detail of the boots is particularly interesting and revealing, since it is a type of footwear that brings together durability, versatility and comfort, which also reveal a certain relaxed pragmatism of the character. Mike Leigh's direction is solid and consistent. The cinematography is good, and I particularly liked the visual style, which seems a little inspired by Woody Allen, another director who offers us light and animated comedies.

Not So Happy

[Melissaslist · 4/10 · 13 October 2008]

Whenever I meet people who seem to be happy all the time I wonder if they are crazy or if they just know something I don't. While I don't get them I'm still fascinated by people like this, which is why I went to see this film.

I found this film to be disappointing. I read great reviews and from the trailer it looked like it would be lots of fun. While I thought Hawkins did a good job in the role, and in fact all the acting was good in my opinion I failed to see the point of the story. Yes, Poppy is always happy, giggly, and positive and feels it's her duty to brighten the days of others and allow them to see life from her point of view. This doesn't really seem to work very well, from the clerk in the book store to the homeless man, to her sister to Scott the belligerent driving instructor. All she seemed to do was irritate these people for being so insanely chipper and wanting to force her cheeriness onto others and fault them for not seeing life the same way. I found HER annoying in this respect.

I honestly felt if she DID have a real effect on those people and DID somehow brighten their lives by just being around then the story would have made more sense. I felt Poppy was genuinely kind, sweet, and childlike, however she WAS selfish, as Scott pointed out and did "have a real need to be adored". She was immature and disrespectful during all her lessons which angered Scott while feeling that she was just being happy and sweet. There are times for jokes and there are times to be a bit serious. If you're mocking another person and what they do don't expect them to be happy with you.

In the movie "Closer" Jude Law's character tells Clive Owens character that "everyone wants to be happy" to which Clive Owen's character responds "depressed people don't want to be happy. They WANT to be depressed". I kept thinking of that scene after leaving "happy go lucky". Poppy's view of life works for HER, but doesn't work for everyone, and is not everyones (or most people's) true nature. While someone who IS so happy might want to impart their wisdom onto others maybe these people don't want to be educted as to how to see things differently.

A shining occasion for modern cinema, "Happy-Go-Lucky" welcomely explores a range of emotions and themes.

[Sergeant_Tibbs · 9/10 · 15 August 2008]

On first impression, Mike Leigh's new film feels like a light-hearted, simple-minded and a briefly delightful flick. But when it comes to Leigh; you should enter with the assumption that you will leave drained from all other thoughts. Happy-Go-Lucky is no different. However, it has certainly got a balanced amount of comedic and dramatic elements, each outweighing each other once present on screen. The naturalistic and fast paced dialogue intertwined with slang and theory, with wit and sarcasm is contained for an intense, joyful and powerful viewing. Harsh and realistic danger is presented for emotional enhancement rather than the exaggerated situations in the conventional Hollywood film. We are set with a protagonist and remain with her to the end plus the pleasant charm of the British culture entwined.

Sally Hawkins shines as the lead, Poppy, in one of the best performances of the year, a seemingly naive extrovert with a very expressive and optimistic attitude towards life and all her hardships. She laughs at unfortunate events that she "suffers", such as getting her bicycle - her form of personal transport, of which she enjoys to wave at people whilst riding - stolen, as if it were a cruel irony and she gets the joke. This upbeat spirit is rarely broken, even if the polar opposite of attitudes comes into contact with her unless taken to the absolute limit. She is an inviting figure, one that which desires to inspire her mood and thoughts on life. In doing so, she becomes a primary teacher, when the mind is at it's spongiest. There is a scene where she experiments creativity with her long term roommate Zoe (Alexis Zegerman) in the form of cardboard boxes and more materials to make a bird-like costume. Poppy is the definitive authority figure in the film. To match her personality is the excessive clothes with often delicate unnecessary items just to provide bright colours in the darkest of hues in the scenes. This brightness transcends her performance and makes her my absolute favourite leading performance of the year.

The most expressive supporting performance comes from Eddie Marsan, as Scott, Poppy's driving instructor. However, his character is the opposite to Poppy's, always agitated and enraged when flaws occur. His character does not mix with her at all. The driving scenes are the utmost emotionally engaging scenes in the entire film and form the structure of routine giving a basis and understanding of the time frame therefore the development the characters go about in their relationships with each other - especially since they meet during his last shift so he wants to escape the working mode and enter the more relaxing mode of no responsibility. Scott constantly misinterprets Poppy's actions, as if she's sexually teasing him for her pleasure or patronizing his behaviour. During their rather short journeys of stopping, starting, arguing, repeating explanations - the tension really builds up. Every time Scott's rage is starting to show Poppy strikes him down with a joke to calm him; or maybe herself. Happy-Go-Lucky had the power to make a grin evolve across my face then wipe it straight off again within the same shot. Her comfort is very limited and only appears again with the most prominent support of Zoe (a wonderfully sarcastic performance which is an absolute joy to see every time) - even more so than her family that do appear not necessarily in an agreeable situation. There is also a rather striking and bleak scene in which Poppy encounters a tramp (played by Stanley Townsend) where he confronts her in a strange gibberish without a seeming understanding of his correct surroundings. This hobo is a symbolism of freedom, of complete and utter creativity with his language and imagination. When Poppy is presented with this person she is in a state of confusion as what to do.

This is the whole point of the film. Authority (Poppy), with it's intimidating and overbearing behaviour, overtakes that of the weaker society (the children), so fills their views when they'll most likely take it in without hassle and live by these thoughts. Despite allowing the children to express themselves through the medium of products she is still controlling them and not allowing complete freedom; yes, on the outside they may all be different, but technically they are all bird-costumes - therefore she is not able to properly inspire the creativity she wishes to do so. However, once presented with a form of society that has matured and developed their own opinions and morals it is more difficult to get through to them - hence the firmer attitude Poppy has to resort to in order to get Scott (this figure of society) to conform. The flaws become more prominent once authority is unable to abide by their own rules to make society work; which is shown during the dance classes as she is clearly out of time with everyone and making up her own moves. Or a simpler interpretation and a completely valid one, is that Poppy is a child at heart, therefore her desire to work with children and therefore her dependence on the older flatmate and the fact she prefers to use a nickname as apposed to her real name (Pauline). Or possibly willfully ignorant.

Other than Sally Hawkins incredible performance, Happy-Go-Lucky's strength comes from the balanced script, cinematography and editing, with the ability to achieve a range of tones therefore reactions from the viewer. Natural and sharp dialogue makes for always compelling and entertaining viewing. The colour is pure eye candy, with bright bold shapes and no hues between the colours giving the film personality within itself - without the help of Sally Hawkins. The score adds to the delight with a bubbly mix of string and jazz, reflecting the main characters. Although I completely understand how someone can find these irritable, I, however, find them an absolute joy; never wanting the intense, rewarding, enriching and enlightening experience to end.

9/10

Some may be cheered. Others will be irritated.

[blackburnj-1 · 6/10 · 19 November 2008]

Mike Leigh's latest film is all about happiness, which is perhaps a departure for the man who made "Vera Drake" and "Secrets and Lies". At the centre of this are two characters. One is the endlessly optimistic Poppy and the other is the dismally angry Scott. One is a triumph for the film and the other is a matter of taste.

The film is all about Poppy, played with skill by Sally Hawkins. She is quite unbelievably happy and cheery in her outlook on life. Now, some may be able to deal with this kind of character for a long period of time. Others (this reviewer included) couldn't deal with her after the first ten minutes, let alone for the whole two hours and were thoroughly irritated. The opinion is going to differ from person to person, but if you're in the latter group then you might struggle with this film.

The other side of the coin is Scott, which is another standout performance from the much underrated Eddie Marsan. His absolute nuttiness is easy to laugh at, but this character has a degree of depth that runs throughout the course of the film, whereas Poppy's moments are only intermittent. When Marsan is on screen, you cannot tear your eyes from him.

The film itself is rather inconsequential for the majority, with moments of interest far outweighed by periods of annoyance. The film is well acted (Hawkins' realisation of Poppy is excellent even if you do find her character to be aggravating) and there are moments of humour, and it is quite diverting, though never really interesting.

And then, right at the end, there is a magnificent scene where Marsan and Hawkins are spectacular. It is interesting, detailed and wonderfully done. It isn't quite worth the preceding 100 minutes, but it demonstrates the film's strengths: good acting, good writing and terrific character direction. The problem is there simply aren't enough of these moments.

A contrary view

[toby-266 · 3/10 · 8 January 2009]

I went to this movie against my better judgement, in the hope that Mike Leigh and his band of luvvies had managed to make something digestible for the general public. And in fact, I don't think this is a bad film, and I am not surprised at the favourable reviews.

But - and that's a big but - while many commentators say they went to this film expecting to be irritated by it, and ended up enjoying it, I found the reverse effect.

Poppy is a happy and optimistic person, uplifting to behold, but also incredibly naive. It is as if her happy personality is sufficient defence against the fact that she tips over the edge half the people around her.

I felt immense sympathy for Scott, played brilliantly by Eddie Marsan, who is one of those disturbed people - with a background and childhood we can only guess at - who are able, just, to live within society. But like a dripping tap, Poppy wilfully pushes him bit by bit, with no understanding of him at all, until he explodes. It's as if the bubble of happiness that she lives in is justification for the hurt she wreaks on others. Scott is not a likable character. But until he met this idiot woman, he was able to function without causing any harm.

Furthermore, Poppy goes into a dark building, again in her happy bubble, to be confronted by a tramp. I sat there thinking, "You stupid woman, why on earth did you go there?". Frankly, if she'd been beaten to a pulp, I would have cheered.

A Lovely Look At How To Be Happy

[prylands · 8/10 · 24 April 2008]

All of the Mike Leigh traits are present in this lovely little film: the dysfunctional family, the contrasting approaches to life and a bittersweet questioning of what it is to be happy, what it is to be human.

The film is at times both lovely and disturbing. It is life affirming but carries a caveat that unhappiness does exist in sullen faces, in madness, in neuroses. However, the central characters triumph in an engaging if quirky film that may well see you leaving the cinema with a lighter step and a lighter heart.

It is not a film that will win top awards but it is one that will remain in the memory a good while as it is thought provoking and ultimately wonderful.

Feel good movie

[dakjets · 7/10 · 12 March 2018]

As always, Mike Leigh also in this delivers a film with a unique insight into everyday people. But unlike many other of his films, this is more light and easy in the tone and what I want to call a feel-good movie. The film is based on the character Poppy, and goes straight into her life. It may be strange to write this, but the movie actually has little content besides following her many strange incidents and funny episodes. But even if the movie misses a story that builds itself up and draws you into the action, it works just fine. Much thanks to the main role holder who is really created for the role of the freaky, fun and funny poppy. We also need such movie experiences.

A sprightly and optimistic little film

[johnny_ultimate · 8/10 · 13 May 2008]

If ever a film was wonderfully summarised in a title, it is Happy-Go-Lucky. Those five syllables perfect describe the light and breezy tone of this film, and quite possibly how you will feel as you leave the cinema. This is a movie that admirably celebrates optimism, which I for one found a nice relief in an age where even Hollywood blockbusters strive to be dark and cynical.

At first, I didn't really think I was going to enjoy Happy-Go-Lucky. The opening few minutes have a couple of attempts at humour that fall rather flat: not really a positive sign in a comedy-drama. And then there is a sequence illustrating a stereotypical, painful night out: the drunken ramblings of a coven of irritating witches prove to be an instant turn-off that creates little sympathy towards Poppy, our chirpy protagonist.

But luckily Happy-Go-Lucky is a slow burner: it just takes a little while to adjust to Poppy's world. It is Poppy (or Pauline) herself that will likely begin to conjure up some goodwill. Her cheery, often illogical optimism is a difficult trait to pull off, but Sally Hawkins gives a truly exceptional performance. Poppy is an oddity in London: a woman who has decided to be endlessly upbeat in a city of dreariness and unfriendliness. Her primary coloured clothes are in sharp contrast to the grey, apathetic streets and people around her, while her constant attempts at light humour and banter are often dismissed by those she tries to cheer up. Admittedly, she does often come across as annoying and excessive, but this simply strengthens her character: she is a solid mix of likable quirks and annoying habits. Her good-will even in the most difficult of situations (one sequence where she attempts to talk to a homeless drunkard sticks out) becomes endearing, and you may well find yourself cheering her on sooner than expected. She is a multi-layered character: her motivations admirable, her outlook likable. Most importantly she is a very strong, independent person who is entirely happy with her life, and the character is more than capable of holding the film together. Hawkins' portrayal works brilliantly, and her performance is one of the most charming and memorable in quite some time.

Poppy holds the story together, and it is a great relief that her character is so compelling, as the narrative relies on her completely. Indeed, the 'story' is almost non-existent, and is simply a few chapters in the day to day life of our protagonist. The film simply comprises of a number of vignettes in Poppy's life. It documents her day-to-day encounters: dealing with a troubled boy in the class she teaches, her bizarre dancing lessons, her sojourns with an intense driving instructor. More than anything, these mini-tales try and portray the way in which Poppy tries to retain her optimism in the face of an often bleak reality. Perhaps the central story is the one focusing on her driving lessons with a racist, emotionally fragile instructor. These Saturday excursions are the best examples of the film's thematic concerns: the difficulty of remaining optimistic in a pessimistic world. While Poppy's refusal to drop her friendly mannerisms often put her at risk, ultimately her cheery attitude keeps her safe and wins over the many other characters she encounters. Director Mike Leigh seemingly urges the audience to try and be friendly in an increasingly unfriendly world through his sympathetic portrayal of Polly, which seems to me to be an entirely refreshing moral! There are dark hints throughout the film: there are subtle references to child abuse, alcoholism, obsession and other bleak issues. But these are an integral part of the film that reinforce the general happy mood. The cinematography reinforces this – often quite subtle, it makes terrific use of colour to give Poppy a central presence. Her multi-coloured clothing and her flatmate's yellow car make her stand out instantly. It is also quite a funny little movie when it wants to be: the humour is quirky and offbeat, but Leigh will likely succeed in making you laugh through his bizarre characters and situations. Driving instructor Scott's repeated refrain of Enraha is a great running joke, while the sometimes ridiculous mannerisms of Poppy are often good for a chuckle.

There are one or two issues that should be raised. Some of the sequences seem a little redundant: in particular a final-act romance that seems somewhat surplus to requirements (although it is thankfully brief). The ancillary characters sometimes seem to lack depth: Poppy's younger sister in particular. And the previously mentioned weak start is an obstacle that has to be overcome to reveal the real depth and subtlety the film has to offer.

Happy-Go-Lucky is a sprightly little film that is a truly uplifting experience. True a fantastically realised lead character, it has a lot to say about the increasing depersonalisation of contemporary society. The messages are subtle and careful, despite the excessiveness of Poppy. The film is far deeper than appearances may suggest, and while it is a very enjoyable two hours, it also lends itself to more detail examination. Catch this in the right mood and Happy-Go-Lucky's big heart (symbolised by Poppy's necklace) may just win you over.

Annoying and irritating characters

[Gordon-11 · 5 October 2008]

This film is about a London school teacher who is constantly happy, and even childish.

I was hoping "Happy Go Lucky" would at least be a feel good happy movie. With this expectation, I was devastatingly disappointed by what I saw. Poppy is a person who does not take anything seriously. Instead of being cute and comical, she comes across as being very annoying and even offensively stupid at times. She and her friends engage in tireless and pointless conversations, making the whole film really boring. The driving instructor is unlikeable as he is uptight and rigid, but his scenes are the comparatively most captivating out of the whole film.

I don't see the reason for the rave reviews for this film. It's ever so boring and irritating.

One of the Sweetest and Most Beautiful Characters I Have Ever Seen

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 9 August 2009]

In Camden, the elementary school teacher Poppy Cross (Sally Hawkins) is a very optimistic thirty year-old smiler that has been sharing a flat with her girlfriend and also teacher Zoe (Alexis Zegerman) for ten years. When her bicycle is stolen, Poppy decides to have driving lessons in the Axle School of Motoring with the rude, bigoted and bitter instructor Scott (Eddie Marsan). Meanwhile she has trouble with her back in the trampoline and she decides to take classes of Flamenco dance with a Spanish teacher. When her pupil Nick (Jack MacGeachin) bullies other students, Poppy feels that the boy is having troubles at home and asks for the assistance of the social worker Tim (Samuel Roukin) and they start to date each other. However her attitude of happiness and joy is misinterpreted by Scott.

"Happy-Go-Lucky" is a simple movie of Mike Leigh with one of the sweetest and most beautiful characters I have ever seen. Sally Hawkins is simply fantastic performing a character that tries to bring smile to the world, and I loved her. The story discloses a couple of days in the life of this remarkable character that seems to be inspired in some of Frank Capra's characters. Her counterpoint is Scott, with a magnificent performance of the always effective Eddie Marsan. The winner of this duel is unfortunately the sadness and bitterness of Scott that shakes the happiness of Poppy in a realistic conclusion of this great little movie. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Simplesmente Feliz" ("Simply Happy")

As pure as it gets

[brankocerny · 10/10 · 7 June 2020]

This is one of the few films I've ever seen that have left me with a lingering feeling of "pure". It's not attempting at being anything. It's a small movie about regular people living small lives. There's hardly a plot to speak of. And yet it keeps you transfixed every second. And somehow, those small lives, those unremarkable snippets of honest conversations, they in the end add up to all of life in its totality. Very few films speak directly to the soul, and this is one of them.

A little optimism for a change

[blakestachel · 7/10 · 1 April 2021]

Quite the B-side to Naked. The two, in combination, are like having sardines for lunch and then following them up with a slice of peach cobbler. I rather liked the sardines, I just can't believe they came out of the same oven as the cobbler. It's impressive how Mike Leigh can cook up such a wide range of philosophical characters and somehow make them all seem authentic and appealing.

Hey, Poppy, if you REALLY want to make everybody happy...

[twohoursofmylife · 1/10 · 27 September 2010]

(as you claim)... how about you start by actually listening to people, respecting them, and interacting with them in a manner that would make THEM happy, rather than behaving like an insipid, childish, self-indulgent ninny with a chronic compulsive giggle and snark problem, who expects the whole world to behave like one gigantic amusement park, designed with one goal in mind: to entertain you?

Like several other reviewers of this movie, I signed up with IMDb just so that I could review this horrid movie. I'd like to warn away any potential viewers who have more than one brain cell intact.

This movie has nothing to say about real life, or about the real drama that each of us faces in going through life while balancing a desire for happiness with an awareness of and empathy for the challenges faced by each of us personally, and all of us globally. Aside from the insanely irritating main character and the more complex, profoundly flawed, and yet sadly sympathetic driving instructor, the rest of the characters are drawn with about as much depth as a cartoon sketch in the Sunday funnies.

The "love" story between Poppy and the social worker? Come on. The coo-coo "your eyes are so gorgeous" business on their first date made me want to puke. I guess I shouldn't have expected any more of a coherent conversation topic from Poppy, who had already been exposed as an air-headed idiot - but I thought at least her date, a social worker, would have been given something more scintillating to say as an opening gambit. (Then again, I would have thought that a social worker who comes to a school to visit a troubled little boy would have brought his own sheet of paper for the boy to draw on...)

I loathed this movie - absolutely loathed it. The only reason I watched this ghastly thing through to the end was that I hoped - in vain - that the eternally annoying, infantile, and selfish Poppy would eventually be confronted with someone or some situation that would cause her to reevaluate her approach to life, and then to go back and apologize to each person that she had irritated with her outrageously inane behavior.

Save yourself the two hours - this lame excuse of a movie isn't worth it.

simple film greatness

[krzysiektom · 10/10 · 17 June 2009]

I have to write it, I just have to comment on the very dumb, unintelligent criticism written by the likes of grynai or kprp about this film. They completely do not got it. For me it is a wonderful, extremely well written and acted movie. Fluffy at first sight, barely enough to hold one's interest for 90 mins at first sight, but it is only a facade! This film is about more than 15 average Hollywood dramas together. It is about a simple philosophy of life and how our attitude shapes our experiences. It is about being grateful for little things and the importance of being negative or positive. It is about what life is all about, does it have to be about getting new things, status or family? Or maybe not? When does one's life acquire sense or meaning, only when we "achieve"?? It was so very refreshing for me to see for once a female character who says that without a husband or kids her life is still excellent and very satisfactory. We have been brain-washed by the comedies or dramas, or TV series like Sex and the City, where women lose self-respect if they do not get a male couple. Let's take even the intelligent protagonists of the intelligent Sex and the City - they can heave super jobs, money, health, hobbies and friends, and they live in modern New York, yet we are told that it all means nothing without a relationship with a man, who obligatorily has to have a well functioning c**k. And to say that Poppy has no feelings for other people? That she is insensitive? How ignorant a viewer must be to have this opinion? I cannot even imagine, maybe they watched a different movie? Just the scene when Poppy has the argument with the driving instructor tells us clearly otherwise, yet apparently it is not enough for some viewers. I wish I were more like her, I know in her place I would throw away the car keys and go away angry, or maybe also threaten the guy with a restraining order. But I think, and I am glad for that, that there are probably surprisingly many people similar to Poppy in real life, living optimistically and fully their simple, on the surface meaningless lives with dignity and politeness. It is a film that despite apparent simplicity defies clichés, we expect that finally something really bad will happen to her but it does not, that the school shrink will turn out nasty yet he does not. It is a film where good things can happen to good people, which I can see in too few films. It is a film that deceptively leaves one with a warm feeling despite including various shades of evil of the life around: we see a disturbed child, we hear of the child abuse, we witness an unhappy, lonely, semi-autistic, homeless person, we see darkness and possible violence in a driving instructor, we see lack of communication or closeness between sisters... Enough yet done in an interesting, subversive, skewed way. A wonderful little film that says a much about life and the "common" people.

'What AM I Like?!?'

[clivey6 · 6/10 · 11 May 2009]

Mike Leigh slice-of-life film set in Camden, London. The protagonist, Poppy, is the happy go lucky character of the title, we see her swanning about on a bike, all very Richard Lester 1960s-style. She's a bit like Catherine Tate's 'What AM I like?!?' persona, finding her own antics very funny and so on. But the film rubbed me up the wrong way from the start, because the surly strangers she encounters were so exaggeratedly unfriendly, I felt it a bit contrived to get us on her side and feel sorry for her.

Grumpily I imagined a Hostel type scenario for her, but even then, her tender white skin prodded by a sharp instrument in a dank basement, she's probably go "Ooh, hello Mr Sythe! I guess you're annoyed I haven't used you to cut the lawn lately! I must say, this is different to your Holiday Inn experience!"

What's more, her bigoted driving instructor is a white, working class bloke who's a Christian extremist and conspiracy theorist - the sort of nutter who ticks all the boxes, the kind you can ridicule with impunity these days. It was all too easy, he was such a stereotype. When Poppy goes all wise and asks, "Are you an only child, Scott?" or "Were you bullied at school, Scott?" it's as if we're meant to applaud her intuition, when in fact that's a very crass thing to say to someone. Heaven knows what working- class champion and only child Julie Burchill would make of it! That said, I'm a little surprised by the support Scott generates on this site.

Leigh has form when it comes to patronising the working classes, in a way I felt this was the case here. Excellent acting by the lead, though my admiration was mixed with ambivalence when I realised from the bonus features that she - and most of them - are far posher than the people they portray. Overall I thought this was a bit lefty Guardian for me. Naturally, every black person in this film is salt of the earth. Fair enough, but it all seemed a bit doctrinaire and heavy handed, going against the supposedly random, slice-of-life approach.

Unhappy Go-Plot less

[j-lacerra · 1/10 · 25 June 2010]

Happy Go-Lucky follows the apparently insane and moronic Poppy, played by Sally Hawkins, through a few weeks of her eventful yet curiously uneventful daily life. Poppy is always annoyingly happy, yet can't seem to zero in on any real aspects of life. This movie has absolutely no plot. It is a series of unrelated and unexplained encounters centering on one annoying (really annoying!) character. Nothing is explained or important to the plot, because the movie has none. Some of the things that happen to and with Poppy are:

1. Her bike is stolen, to which she reacts with a half-smile and snarky comment to herself.

2. She enjoys the trampoline. No further explanation.

3. She goes to a doctor for back pain and he manipulates her back. No further mention is made of the pain or the doctor.

4. She gets driving instructions from a borderline maniac with no patience. But she neither follows his instructions (to wear proper shoes, etc.) nor shows any regard for what they are doing.

5. It is hinted that she and her roommate have a lesbian relationship, but it is never brought into specific relief.

6. She has an encounter with a deranged homeless man, but nothing further is shown.

Poppy seems to be perpetually chuckling to some private inner joke that she does not share with the world or the viewer. So, with no story and no endearing characters, no particular point and no resolution of her eternally off-putting good mood, this movie is less than an non-entity; it is downright painful to endure. To make matters worse, it seems unusually long. Avoid at all costs!