Richard Scott Grace Slick, lead singer of the Jefferson Airplane, once said in an interview that there was something pathetic about 50-year-olds playing rock and roll. Grace should rent THIS film, if for no other reason than to see Joss Ackland as Evil Edmonds and his geriatric band, the BeeLzeeBOPS, prove you're NEVER too old to rock. I've been a fan of Ferguson since his days on the Drew Carey Show and enjoyed his two previous films, which he also co-wrote. Somehow I missed this one until recently, which is a shame since it's also his directorial debut. Much has been written about the film as a Charlotte Church vehicle which it really isn't. What it IS is a heart-warming family drama/comedy/musical about lost & re-found love, personal redemption, family values and friendship. Ferguson, who also wrote the screenplay, uses his own personal experiences as an 80's rocker and alcoholic to inform his story without descending into mawkish sentimentality.Here Be Spoilers: The story revolves around Ferguson's Paul Kerr, an 80's rocker on the downside drinking his way into oblivion. After a drunken motorcycle accident lands him in the psych ward under suicide watch, he finds out he has a daughter named Olivia he never knew about, played quite winningly by Ms. Church, from a one-night-stand that he never forgot. This revelation, along with the arrival of his former band-mate and drummer, help him to quit drinking and begin to forge a relationship with his daughter both as a father and as a musician. This also allows him to finally reconnect with Olivia's mother, played quite well by Jemma Redgrave, while helping her to see her child's enormous gift and realize that he really HAS always loved only her. Toss in Joss Ackland's bravura performance as Olivia's Grand-dad, the aforementioned Evil Edmonds, an older, crustier, not-so-successful version of Kerr and you have the basic family. Add a great supporting cast of characters, a great screenplay that shows the humanity OF those characters and great singing from Church and what more do you need? Ferguson's Kerr, as the little boy who never had to grow up, stepping up as both a father and, ultimately, lover is dead on. Redgrave's Rebecca strikes the perfect tone showing her bitterness and anger towards Kerr as well as her vulnerability and love for her daughter. Church is a natural as Olivia, who loves her mother dearly but has music in her bones, a fact seen by Kerr, Evil Edmonds and, ultimately, by Rebecca herself.So it ain't War and Peace. It's merely an excellent family movie which places it head and shoulders above the usual pedestrian family fare. THAT credit goes to writer/director Craig Ferguson. Bravissimo Craig. See this movie. You'll laugh, you'll cry. you'll sing along. If it can warm the heart of a jaded soul like me, then it ought to warm yours as well.

tswartos I stumbled across the movie flipping thru the movie channels and stopped to watch when I saw Craig (I regularly watch his Late, Late Show). I didn't realize it was Charlotte Church until the credits rolled. She stopped my 8 yr old girl in her tracks and she started watched when Charlotte sang at the Royal Academy scene. I really enjoyed the movie. Having watched his show for some time now it was easy to see the parallels he drew from his own life (drinking, sobriety, music, etc). The scene in which the two former band mates where joking about his wife's name being Nessie and they lived in Loch Ness..you could tell they were having a ball when they filmed it. The music scenes where a bit stiff for Craig and the father-in-law.

Leah Robb I must admit I really enjoyed this film. Not because it had something profound to say, but simply because it is positive and has a very amusing, Scottish 'front man'. Craig, you're braw! You really can act the rock star from the smile to the stage appearance! I was also very impressed by Church - very natural. Maybe this film could help her go far? I watched the film with commentary since Ferguson was commentating and found it rather amusing to note that he really had had a motorbike accident (not in the way described in the film) and had broken a rib and hurt his arm. Although you don't think about it in ignorance, it does explain a few things when you know. A must-see for everyone who doesn't stick there nose up at happy film :)

nj28 I can't remember having ever seen a movie with at least four lives depicted with so few words, with cross-cutting scenes, etc. and with the viewer never once getting lost. A gem of writing, acting and cinematic editing.