I watched Happy Go Lucky last night and, despite misgivings, I loved it.
The main problem is that I just do not know anyone like the heroine, Poppy, with her effervescence and constant positivity and hilarity in reaction to a challenging world - do people like her really exist or is just beacause everyone I know is a crabby cynic? It was interesting to think about regardless. A character like Poppy has the potential to be irritating, but Sally Hawkins' performance is completely disarming and she amazingly gets away with it - I even fell in love with her a little
Eddie Marsan's counter performance is perfect - all tightly coiled rage and bitterness - I have definitely encountered people like him. The plot was a trifle contrived (esp the subplot of the abused kid and the scene with the tramp) and the music was that annoying plaintive brass ensemble common to Leigh films that's so at odds with its subject.
It was a thoughtful and moving film though all in all.