Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)

The critic calls the film the story of a good woman, centering on Poppy's irrepressible cheerfulness as played by Sally Hawkins. He singles out the depth revealed in her interactions, especially the powerful scenes with the angry driving instructor Scott.

The critic highlights how Leigh has put a thoroughly happy person front and center for the first time, with Poppy's effervescent presence played irrepressibly by Sally Hawkins. He praises the organic character creation and the central dynamic with the dour driving instructor Scott.

The review celebrates Poppy as Mike Leigh’s most inspired creation, a nuanced character study of optimism and self-knowledge brought to life by Sally Hawkins’ detailed performance. It notes the film’s light-footed comedy and everyday humanity while acknowledging it as Leigh’s most open and optimistic work in years.

The critic notes how the film challenges initial impressions of its chatty, optimistic lead by revealing her conscientiousness and depth. Leigh is praised for contrasting personalities and subverting expectations in a character-driven drama that poses questions about optimism in the modern world.

The critic highlights Sally Hawkins' remarkable performance as the relentlessly upbeat Poppy and praises the film as a genuine feelgood picture that challenges assumptions about positivity in a cynical world. It singles out the dynamic between Poppy and her misanthropic driving instructor for particular note.

Sally Hawkins delivers a delightful performance as the bubbly Poppy, and Leigh cleverly makes the audience root for her optimism. The film is praised as a funny, truthful portrait built around character observation rather than plot.

The critic sees the film as a light-hearted tribute to a carefree spirit from director Mike Leigh. Poppy's relationships and the film's gently tragicomic sensibility are noted, though it is viewed as perhaps a bit too light overall.

The review highlights the film's sharp, unsparing look at its protagonist's unyielding positivity clashing with darker realities. It commends Leigh's direction for delivering a complex, engaging character study without easy resolutions.

The critic praises the film's portrayal of a relentlessly optimistic schoolteacher who maintains her essential goodness amid life's indignities. Leigh and Hawkins are singled out for creating a memorable, humane character through lively performance and direction that blends whimsy with deeper humanity.

Mike Leigh and Sally Hawkins triumph in portraying a relentlessly optimistic primary school teacher who challenges assumptions about irony, pessimism and happiness. The film is funny, serious, life-affirming and beautifully performed with a lightness of touch.

The critic finds the film expansive and moving, with Poppy's bright focus played gloriously by Sally Hawkins. She notes Leigh's dramatist skill in aligning characters for emotional effect while exploring the complicated nature of happiness.

Leigh attempts an 'anti-miserabilist' film with a sunny heroine, but Poppy remains irritating and some scenes misfire; it is a brave but minor departure from his usual style.

Leigh tries to build a story around a relentlessly happy character, but Poppy is irritating and unbelievable; the film highlights a contrast with a sullen England but fails to convince.

The critic finds the film a buoyant and remarkable Mike Leigh work that transcends genre labels through top-notch performances, especially Sally Hawkins as the optimistic Poppy and Eddie Marsan as her driving instructor.

Mike Leigh’s film is a glorious refutation of the idea that compelling cinema requires flawed characters, with Sally Hawkins delivering a delightful, fully inhabited performance as the positive, good-hearted Poppy in a meandering but vibrant character study.

The film is a fun and endearing character study of Poppy’s quirky upbeat attitude and Sally Hawkins’ strong performance, though the character may prove too in-your-face for some viewers.

The film is charming to a degree thanks to Sally Hawkins' performance as the relentlessly upbeat Poppy, but it rarely arrives anywhere meaningful and the drama lacks depth.