Swing

What a great date movie! I saw "Swing" at the Wine Country Film Festival. I arrived vaguely downhearted and left feeling alright with the world; in my book, any film that accomplishes that is worth seeing. Within a minute of the credits I knew I was in for a good time, and by the film's exuberant end I hadn't been the slightest let down.

"Swing" doesn't take itself too seriously, and as a result it avoids the cloying sweetnes that has started to creep into the Full Monty's (which film I loved) progeny. It reminded me of some of my favorite Australian comedies --" Strictly Ballroom," "Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert" and "Muriel's Wedding" come to mind -- as well as, oddly enough, the sitcom "Seinfeld."

Why? Probably because I was as charmed and entertained by the characters, their foibles and imperfections, as I was by the circumstances in which they found themselves. The humor was dark here and there, and often skewer-sharp, but it wasn't mean-spirited, which I especially appreciated; too often nowadays lazy writers reach for laughs through the cheapest shot. "Swing" left me with the kind of warm glow I get at the best family reunions or holiday meals.

"Swing" also provides an energizing soundtrack, really smooth, accessible cinematography and one of the funnier Liverpool jokes I've heard in years.

Where would a jealous cop try to forment a riot in a hotel to win his wife back from the leader of a swing band? In contemporary Liverpool, if this film is to be believed. Mind you, it also asks us to believe that the same band leader, who's a Catholic, vows to bring up his kids as protestants in return for the use of a band hall. _Swing_ can't seem to make up its mind whether it wants to be a zany comedy of a piece of naturalism in the British Social Realist tradition, and this schizophrenia often irritates. It's got some entertaining scenes , though, some great music and good acting, particularly from the sexy Lisa Stansfield.

After seeing this rather fun loving film, I just wanted to take up my dancing career again. Lisa Stansfield plays a very convincing scouser, even though there are the odd times when Rochdale creeps in, this is also a slight problem with Hugo Speer, non the less a most enjoyable film with laughs a plenty. If you have never been to Liverpool, once you have watched "Swing" you'll feel you have lived there.

This director didn't miss a beat in developing these characters. The humour is dark and rich, with a really local flavour and a lot of geniune affection behind each turn. I was amazed at Lisa Stansfield whose performance was so natural you'd think she'd been treading the boards for years. While SWING shows Liverpool and the kind of poverty you can't shake off your boots, it begs you to be optimistic, let loose and come have a good time. Music, faith and hard work (with a bit of luck in the form of an hysterically funny "professional" lottery winner) transform Hugo Speer's world and I left the theatre with the lightest of hearts from experiencing his journey.

And forget about the soundtrack, everybody was tapping and grinning away throughout the film.

I had barely heard of this film when I caught the trailer in front of another video. Since I love swing music, enjoyed Hugo Speer in "The Full Monty" and like Lisa Stansfield's singing, I gave it a try and was not dissappointed.

The story of an ex-con organizing a swing band is like "The Commitments" only not as crunchy. But while it's unravelling, particularly during the musical numbers, there's little time to complain. The whole thing is really a fairy tale, with a demented lottery winner as fairy godmother and Stansfield's possessive husband--the cop who had arrested Speers three years earlier--as wicked witch.

Stansfield's singing of some classic jazz and soul numbers is simply terrific. And Speers turns in a kinetic performance that could make him a star if anybody else sees this film.