Review of Begin Again (2014) by Foxgrove — 13 Jul 2014

This is a real crowd pleaser. With its gentle charm and simple, but not simplistic storyline it captivatingly draws one into its wish fulfilment, fantasy romance. Backed up by an incredible clutch of great new songs, which will ensure that the CD is a must have item, this is a no gloss production with a very big heart.

One's initial fears that it will be as indifferent as its title suggests are not borne out (the original title 'Can a song save your life' is a lot quirkier) and one very quickly warms to both the film and the performances of its very engaging cast. Mark Ruffalo is outstanding here and there is real chemistry between him and Keira Knightley, sporting a very acceptable singing voice. Supporting actors also contribute to the charm, although a little of James Cordon does go a long way. Unfamiliar New York locations are also refreshingly used.

Personally I enjoyed it more than John Carney's previous hit, 'Once', and it does share that film's love of music and the endurance of the human spirit. Also, wisely, neither film opts for an obviously pat ending. In fact, this could very well end up being the most enjoyable movie surprise of the year.