Paul Potts grows up in Port Talbot, Wales, ridiculed for singing opera. He turns out to have a terrific voice and this film tells his story from childhood through to winning Britain's Got Talent, encompassing his family, girlfriend/wife, assorted tribulations and, yes, his job working for Carphone Warehouse.
Despite my disliking some of his work (the witless profanity in Zombie Lesbian Killers comes to mind), I recognise James Corden as being a very talented bloke, and his portrayal of Potts as a likable, vulnerable, accident-prone chap, ordinary in every way except for his extraordinary voice, is very good. He has some excellent support, of course - Colm Meaney as Dad and Julie Walters as Mum are as classy as one would expect, and relative newcomer Alexandra Roach, as Paul's girlfriend/wife Julie-Ann, is a delight - her on-screen presence lights up much of the film.
The cinema was full of people of a Certain Age - this is an undemanding true(-ish) story with no bad language of any consequence - who clearly enjoyed the film greatly, and laughed a lot: it is often very funny.
My only criticism - and it isn't that major - is that it is quite clear physically that Corden isn't actually singing. Otherwise, this light and amiable film was very enjoyable and had a lot of something which is all too often missing from modern movies - heart.
I'm not sure how well it will travel internationally.
Despite my disliking some of his work (the witless profanity in Zombie Lesbian Killers comes to mind), I recognise James Corden as being a very talented bloke, and his portrayal of Potts as a likable, vulnerable, accident-prone chap, ordinary in every way except for his extraordinary voice, is very good. He has some excellent support, of course - Colm Meaney as Dad and Julie Walters as Mum are as classy as one would expect, and relative newcomer Alexandra Roach, as Paul's girlfriend/wife Julie-Ann, is a delight - her on-screen presence lights up much of the film.
The cinema was full of people of a Certain Age - this is an undemanding true(-ish) story with no bad language of any consequence - who clearly enjoyed the film greatly, and laughed a lot: it is often very funny.
My only criticism - and it isn't that major - is that it is quite clear physically that Corden isn't actually singing. Otherwise, this light and amiable film was very enjoyable and had a lot of something which is all too often missing from modern movies - heart.
I'm not sure how well it will travel internationally.