Happy-Go-Lucky

"Happy-Go-Lucky" is a movie I shouldn't have liked, let alone loved. Mike Leigh's latest working-class dramedy is centered around the sort of person I spend most of my daily existence trying to avoid, but can't. You know the type -- the irritating, hopelessly perky person who wakes up on the right side of the bed, hits you with jaunty words of optimism and always looks on the bright side of life. Heck, some of you may even work with these people. (I know I do!)

The person in this instance is the aptly named Poppy (Sally Hawkins), a giddy primary schoolteacher we first see riding her bike around the streets of London, waving at folks as she glides by, beaming smile stretching from ear to ear. Yeah, you just know this gal's going to be a handful.
(Full review)