Happy-Go-Lucky

Movie review from The Movie Snob

Happy-Go-Lucky (B). This is the story of Poppy, a 30-year-old single schoolteacher living in London who seems to be always happy. Whether talking to a surly bookstore clerk or realizing her bicyucle has been stolen, she is all smiles and constantly verging on outright laughter. She could be unbearable, but actress Sally Hawkins somehow makes Poppy pretty much thoroughly likeable. Part of her charm, I believe, is that she may be eternally optimistic but she is generally not stupid. When she sees a student engage in persistent bullying behavior, for example, she responds appropriately and without naivete. Hawkins did a nice job as Anne Elliott in the British TV version of Persuasion, and I hope we get to see more work from her soon.