Chances are you’ve heard the title “One Chance” in movie news stories often over the past year or so. The musical comedy based on the true story of wannabe opera singer Paul Potts, who eventually won Simon Cowell’s “Britain’s Got Talent” TV competition show, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2013 and was released in England the following month. The US limited release was originally set for last Christmas Day. But The Weinstein Company, notorious for shifting release dates, had other ideas.
The studio decided to move “One Chance” to February 7th, 2014. This, obviously, would take the film out of the ’13 Awards Season race. However, Awards Season voters, including yours truly, received a screener of the movie before this change was made. And so the Taylor Swift song, “Sweeter Than Fiction”, featured in the closing credits of the film, was nominated for the Best Original Song Golden Globe, going-up against “Frozen”‘s “Let it Go” and losing to U2’s “Ordinary Love” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” (another Weinstein release).
Then things got even crazier when the release date was moved to March 14th and then to the cinematic death date of August 29th. I’m sure Mr. Cowell (a producer on the movie) and director David Frankel (“The Devil Wears Prada”, “Marley & Me”) were not very pleased. Than finally, TWC announced that they would put “One Chance” out in time for a second Awards Season go-around (if that’s even possible) on October 10th and “premiere” the film ten days earlier online on Yahoo! Screen.
Well, I watched my screener of “One Chance”, back on January 2nd, making this the longest time I’ve ever had to hold (and significantly update) a review. And I’ve been very supportive of this film, through all of the delays and difficulties, because it’s delightful, charming, and absolutely worth seeing.
James Corden, from “Begin Again”, the upcoming “Into the Woods”, and Craig Ferguson’s successor as host of “The Late Late Show” shines as Paul. Bullied as a kid, Paul now works as a cell-phone store employee in South Wales, but he has dreams of becoming a world famous opera singer. His first true love is Julz (played by Alexandra Roach, the young Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady”). They met on the internet and she is his biggest supporter, along with his caring but sensitive mum Yvonne (Julie Walters). Paul’s strict father Roland (Colm Meaney) would rather see him working in the coal mines.
As you’d expect, Paul faces many obstacles as he pursues his dream. These test his spirit and determination. But he keeps his eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel, resulting in some incredible opportunities.
Both the acting and vocal performances in “One Chance” are very strong. Corden and Roach have authentic chemistry, resulting in one of the best on- screen relationships we’ve seen in years. Mackenzie Crook, as Paul’s cell-phone store boss Braddon, stands-out amongst the supporting cast with some irresistibly funny deliveries of lines from this very sharp script. “One Chance” doesn’t always go for the big laughs. The rather subtle, offbeat style of humor really works. And the cinematography, in particular when the story moves to Venice where Paul attends opera school, is beautiful.
Surprisingly, the “Britain’s Got Talent” portion of the story is saved until the final 20 minutes. The actual video of Cowell and the other judges is nicely mixed-in with Corden’s audition as Potts. As it turns out, “One Chance” isn’t about the competition itself or Potts’ run on the show, but rather the inspiring, incredible journey of Paul Potts as he strives to prove to the world, and himself, that he is a star. It’s “Rocky” meets Rigoletto. Find it. See it. Watch it. And you, too, will say – “Bravo”.
On The Official LCJ Report Card, “One Chance” gets an A-.