As always, Mike Leigh also in this delivers a film with a unique insight into everyday people. But unlike many other of his films, this is more light and easy in the tone and what I want to call a feel-good movie. The film is based on the character Poppy, and goes straight into her life. It may be strange to write this, but the movie actually has little content besides following her many strange incidents and funny episodes. But even if the movie misses a story that builds itself up and draws you into the action, it works just fine. Much thanks to the main role holder who is really created for the role of the freaky, fun and funny poppy. We also need such movie experiences.

As the title suggests, Poppy Cross (Sally Hawkins) is happy-go-lucky. She is 30 living in Camden and a school teacher. She is talkative and friendly to a fault. No matter what goes wrong with her life, she remains unflinchingly optimistic. She lives with her best friend Zoe. She tries to learn to drive from angry instructor Scott (Eddie Marsan). One of the kids is a bully and a hot young social worker comes to help.

I don't want to come off as being sour, but her unguided happiness annoyed me a little. It's a brilliant performance and the first time I noticed Sally Hawkins. She fully commits to this character. It could have come off as being ditsy but she adds a depth to this character. Mike Leigh is able to give this one note character something more interesting. There's a sad note hiding underneath this character. Eddie Marsan has some fun being the sourpuss and has good funny exchanges. EnRaHa!

Well some people seem to be happy about anything. Some people seem to try to hate everything. Well let's say, if you like your movies to be dramatic and more let's say realistically, then this isn't really for you.

There is a part, the driving instructor, you might have seen the guy playing him in a few movies, lastly it was Hancock, that counters the main character, but it doesn't really help let's say for people who look into major character development (issues). This movie does not work like that. But that's not the main point here. The movie is meant to entertain, to be light and funny (mostly, of course there is the occasional exception).

One thing that you should be aware of, the movie is mostly fast talking and if you're not British and watch it in it's original language, than you might have some problems getting every little joke or follow to the last word ... I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy it nevertheless (if you let yourself and don't restrain your feelings like some people/characters ...)