The Choir [Boychoir] **** (2014, Dustin Hoffman, Garrett Wareing, Kathy Bates, Debra Winger, Eddie Izzard, Josh Lucas, Kevin McHale) – Movie Review

Garrett Wareing plays Stet, a troubled and angry 11-year-old orphan from a small Texas town, whose single mom dies and he needs help. His rich real dad (Josh Lucas) has remarried and will pay for stuff for him but doesn’t give a stuff about him. He’s got a new life and new family, and they know nothing about Stet.

Luckily Stet gets the help he needs when he is befriended by social worker Ms Steel (Debra Winger), who detects his vocal musical talent and assists him to end up at a posh East coast Boy Choir school, run by Kathy Bates.

Completely out of his element, the boy finds himself locked in an edgy battle of wills with the demanding Choir Master (Dustin Hoffman), who recognises a unique talent and pushes the boy to discover his musical heart and soul.

Director François Girard (maker of The Red Violin in 1998) and writer Ben Ripley’s sweet film is corny and unchallenging, but it’s also hugely entertaining and uplifting. That’s quite a contradiction, but so what? The film works. That’s all that matters. And that’s down to a lot of old-time professionalism.

Acting-wise, the old pros Hoffman, Bates and Winger really put some wellie behind it. All three are first class. For once, stand-up Izzard doesn’t let the side down acting-wise, even in this Oscar-winning company, and Wareing is very good.

There’s a place for nice, heart-warming stories, and this is an excellent version of this kind of film-making. It’s inspiring for kids, adults will admire it, and warmth, sincerity and lovely music pour out of its every pore.

The story takes place at the real-life American Boychoir School and its students are used in the production. Girard says: ‘It was extraordinary to see them at work. What they accomplish goes way beyond music.’

Filming Locations include Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Movie Review

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com