One Chance
Director: David Frankel
Starring: James Corden, Alexandra Roach
Three stars
James Corden can sometimes come across as arrogant. However, in this engaging take on the trials and tribulations of the Britain's Got Talent winner Paul Potts, he is simply endearing. The film simplifies Potts, but cleaves close to essential truths in showing how the bullied Carphone Warehouse salesman overcame adversity to achieve his dream of becoming an opera singer. En route to victory, the relationship between Potts and his wife-to-be, Julie-Ann, is believably played by Corden and Alexandra Roach, while Mackenzie Crook provides hilarious comic support as Paul's boozy boss. The real Paul Potts supplies Corden's singing voice, in scenes that allow both the actor and the unseen singer to shine. If One Chance has a weakness, it is that it occasionally reminds you of better, similar films, such as Billy Elliot. Even so, this is superior feel-good fare.
artslife@thenational.ae
