One Chance *** (2013, James Corden, Alexandra Roach, Julie Walters, Colm Meaney) – Movie Review

Putting away the abrasive side of his personality, James Corden is surprising likeable in this uplifting, funny, delightfully feel-good Brit biopic. He gives an extremely appealing, often showstopping turn as Britain’s Got Talent winner Paul Potts, a Welsh mobile phone shop salesman, who lives the dream of becoming an opera singer.

The makers want it to be Billy Elliot, even casting Julie Walters again, and it very nearly is.

There’s plenty of mileage in its early life scenes of poor, shy, fat Paul being bullied at school and later by workmates. And of course generally living a crap life, like the pathetic, if loveable loser he looks. He can’t find a real girlfriend, just one on line who says she looks like Cameron Diaz, and he says he’s Brad Pitt.

But, anyway, he’s just gotta live the dream, if only he can save up enough money to go on a singing course. I know, Paul, why not enter a prize-winning pub contest, and dress up like a clown and sing Pagliacci.

The trip to Venice where Potts is tutored and befriended by the Italians and gets the chance to perform in front of Luciano Pavarotti (or at least a good lookalike) is in some ways the film’s highlight. It’s particularly charming and amusing – and informative too.

This funny film has a huge heart, lots of good jokes and loads of good, rock-solid comedy performances. Colm Meaney is excellent as Mr Potts, the opera-phobe dad, Julie Walters amusing (though with little do do) as caring mum, and Mackenzie Crook is a delight as his Carphone Warehouse dodgy but loyal boss. These are three funny, appealing turns.  Julie Walters as Paul Potts’ mum, poor woman!

But best of all in support is the brilliant Alexandra Roach as Boots checkout girl Julz, the girlfriend Paul meets online and ends up at the parents’ house for lunch when they finally meet face to face. Roach really does light up the screen and she’s great with Corden. The Boots scenes were filmed at Boots in Fleet Street. I can verify the truth of the unpleasant security guard menacing and hassling customers there, as the same thing happened to me in that very same branch.

But, good though all the cast is, it’s Corden’s show all the way and, despite lurches into Essex speak, this apparently effortless funnyman’s a real winner here. If you don’t laugh and succumb to the quirky sentimentality during this, both your funnybone heart must be made of stone.

It purports to be a true story, but as usual in a movie it can’t be trusted for the truth. Potts grew up in Bristol, had siblings and was a Lib Dem councillor at 26. Ah well, that’ll have to wait for Potts The Documentary.

Smartly edited and crisply filmed, it’s conscientiously but anonymously directed by David Frankel, who made The Devil Wears Prada, Marley & Me and Hope Springs.

Roach played young Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

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© Derek Winnert 2013 Movie Review

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