Director: John Carney
Rating: 15
Release date: 11 July 2014
Cast: Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine, Cee-lo Green, James Corden, Hailee Steinfeld
Don’t say the word musical to me. I don’t do musicals. No Sunshine on Leith, no Walking on Sunshine (what is it with sunshine and musicals?) and especially no Mama Mia. I think we can all be in agreement that these films are well, a bit rubbish. Yet, year after year, Hollywood brings us celebrity cameos in a flurry of sequins and spontaneous outbursts of song.
While Begin Again may have a musical backdrop and a star studded cast (Keira Knightley, Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine and James Corden to name but a few) this is not your typical summer blockbuster. Simply put, it’s an uplifting comedy with a heart, and even more surprisingly, a good soundtrack. The premise is fairly straightforward: recently divorced music tycoon (Ruffalo) hasn’t signed an act in seven years, pawned of his Grammys and asks his teenage daughter for beer money.
On the brink of suicide he finds recently dumped Greta (Knightley) singing in a bar and the two embark on an impulsive musical venture, weaving through the sunny streets of New York to record their debut album. Despite the postcard perfect New York setting, the film showcases a fantastic blend of American and British humor. The chemistry between Knightley and Ruffalo lends itself to a quick witted and sharp dialogue that ensures the film maintains its upbeat tempo, even in its darker moments.
Knightly proves to be a lot more fun as she ditches the corset to play Greta and its hard not to fall for this unlikely leading lady, dressed like a modern Annie Hall and swearing like a sailor. She’s smart, witty (if a little aloof) and Knightley toes the line between the heartbroken and hilarious with ease. In fact, much of the film’s success is due to its pitch perfect casting – and no one steals a scene better than James Corden as Greta’s happy-go-lucky busking pal. One of the best scene’s in the film sees Knightley and Corden’s characters drunkenly enact revenge on her cheating boyfriend in the form of a song – like the rest of the film the scene is heartwarming, unexpected and, most importantly, there’s not a sequin in sight.
[rating=5]