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Happy-Go-Lucky

Play trailer Poster for Happy-Go-Lucky R Released Oct 10, 2008 1h 58m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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93% Tomatometer 161 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Teacher Poppy Cross (Sally Hawkins) is an eternal optimist who lives with her more cynical friend Zoe (Alexis Zegerman). Deciding she wants to learn to drive, she starts taking lessons from Scott (Eddie Marsan), a tense and downbeat instructor who believes Poppy's levity reflects a lack of seriousness. Although they clash, Poppy is not deterred from her goal. Meanwhile, she starts dating Tim, a social worker who came to her school to help a child.
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Happy-Go-Lucky

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Critics Consensus

Mike Leigh's latest partially-improvised film is a light-hearted comedy with moments that bite, and features a brilliant star turn by Sally Hawkins.

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Critics Reviews

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Ben Kenigsberg Time Out Rated: 4/5 Nov 17, 2011 Full Review Amy Biancolli Houston Chronicle I've never used this clich in a review before, and God forbid I ever use it again, so pay close attention: Happy-Go-Lucky is the feel-good movie of the year. Rated: 4/4 Oct 31, 2008 Full Review Tom Long Detroit News Sally Hawkins, in a blinding, Oscar-worthy piece of acting so good you barely see it, plays Poppy, a perpetually upbeat elementary schoolteacher in London. Rated: B+ Oct 31, 2008 Full Review Jeremy Carr Vague Visages Mike Leigh’s 2008 film Happy-Go-Lucky, one of the most joyous of movies and one of the year’s very best, is a breezy two-hour character study that seems to have the vibrantly unfettered cheer of a coloring book as its foundational text. Nov 16, 2023 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Happy-Go-Lucky shows a different method of survival than viewers of Leigh's cinema are accustomed, though it is no less serious nor funny than any of his other work. Rated: 4/4 Feb 14, 2022 Full Review Charlotte Harrison Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies Possessing an irrefutable optimism that tends to exasperate those arounds her, Hawkins is a true joy to watch in this wonderful gem of a movie. Jun 1, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Martin W Moronic drivel for half wits! Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/18/25 Full Review Julian S Poppy’s driving lessons are the film’s standout moments, defined by intense tension, layered complexity, and an ever-present sense of uncertainty about what will happen next. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/16/25 Full Review Beth K Sally Hawkins was SO irritating I was only sorry that the driving instructor didn't manage to give her a good slapping. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/08/25 Full Review Los G Sally Hawkins does a truly incredible job of creating a totally believable character: sadly, it's a very annoying character! Eddie Marsan, on the other handed, is landed with the job of trying to inhabit one of the worst drawn characters I've ever seen on film. It barely manages to rise to the level of one-dimensional. And, of course, nothing happens. Remove Mike Leigh's name from this and it would have sunk (despite Hawkin's brilliant performance) Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/01/25 Full Review Audience Member Sally Hawkins has never acted so wonderfully and energetically as she does here she totally steals the screen its a trying film that attempts to lift up people's spirits and let happyness run its course despite the limitations and obstacles we face there's no harm in bringing a smile to someone's face a true testament saying we can’t make everyone happy but there’s no harm in trying Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/17/24 Full Review KB B This was such an entertaining movie with good acting and storyline. Sally Hawkins was just a treasurer. It's definitely worth the watch. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/02/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Happy-Go-Lucky

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Cast & Crew

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Mike Leigh

Director

Sally Hawkins

Poppy

Alexis Zegerman

Zoe

Andrea Riseborough

Dawn

Sinead Matthews

Alice

Kate O'Flynn

Suzy

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Happy-Go-Lucky

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Movie Info

Synopsis Teacher Poppy Cross (Sally Hawkins) is an eternal optimist who lives with her more cynical friend Zoe (Alexis Zegerman). Deciding she wants to learn to drive, she starts taking lessons from Scott (Eddie Marsan), a tense and downbeat instructor who believes Poppy's levity reflects a lack of seriousness. Although they clash, Poppy is not deterred from her goal. Meanwhile, she starts dating Tim, a social worker who came to her school to help a child.
Director
Mike Leigh
Producer
Simon Channing Williams, Georgina Lowe
Screenwriter
Mike Leigh
Distributor
Miramax Films
Production Co
Thin Man Films, UK Film Council, Summit Entertainment
Rating
R (Language)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 10, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.5M
Runtime
1h 58m
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