Hunky Dory

An E1 Entertainment relieve a film Agency of Wales, Prescience, in colaboration with Aegis Film Fund presentation from the Large Pond Prods., Bad Wolf Films production. (Worldwide sales: Independent Films, London.) Produced by Jonathan Finn, Serta Lupovitz. Executive producers, Pauline Burt, Christopher Figg, James Gallimore, Keith Potter, Robert Whitehouse. Directed by Marc Evans. Script, Laurence Coriat.Vivienne - Minnie Driver Davey - Aneurin Barnard Stella - Danielle Branch Evan - Tom Harries Headmaster - Robert Pugh Mrs. Valentine - Haydn Gwynne Mr. Cafferty - Steve Speirs Tim - Aled Pugh Sylvie - Julia Perez Kenny Loder - Darren Evans Evan - Tom Harries Mike - George MacKay Lewis - Adam Byard Vicki - Kimberley NixonMinnie Driver plays a teacher fighting to shepherd her students using a pop-acquired output of "The Tempest" in "Hunky Dory," helmer Marc Evans' raggedy, period-set comedy drama. Delivering further evidence the karaoke aesthetic of "Glee" is quickly metastasizing, the pic draws only slight entertainment value within the spectacle of babies warbling seventies pop tunes, as being a retro version of "Secondary School Musical" with less charm. The half-baked script doesn't help, nevertheless the film's finest problem will probably be finding an aud: Kids will think the music activity old-fashioned while handful of parents will uncover the premise appealing. In the Welsh suburb inside the sweltering early summer season of 1976, Vivienne (Driver), a greater-school drama teacher who once aspired to become thesp herself, tries to keep her youthful charges' minds on practicing a musical version of "The Tempest" that opens inside a few days. Often, the kids cut rehearsals to go to swimming or storm off after fighting with each other. Such clashes happen with rather forced regularity throughout, to ensure that they are able to generate plot-delivering momentum. No less than shy male lead Davey (Aneurin Barnard) is motivated, especially since he reaches play Ferdinand opposite crush Stella (Danielle Branch), the gorgeous "town bike" (so named because "everyone has received a ride") who's been cast as Miranda. When the kid playing Prospero out of the blue drops to focus on rugby practice, Vivienne in desperation persuades the school's headmaster (Robert Pugh) to simply accept role, wanting that flattering his vanity provides you with some protection against fellow faculty people, for instance prissy Mrs. Valentine (Haydn Gwynne) and sneering P.E. teacher Mr. Cafferty (Steve Speirs), who'd both be thrilled to look for the entire factor cancelled. The script advances itself too thin trying to provide backstories and subplots to numerous figures, most likely probably the most intriguing, notable and edgy which sees Davey moving his affections from Stella to Vivienne herself, but this proto-"Notes around the Scandal" development remains unconsummated. Round the upside, the musical plans by Jody Talbot are really frequently lovely, specially when they deploy unusual instrumentation and choirs of tuneful Welsh kids on tracks initially completed by ELO, Nick Drake (a credibility-stretching pick, thinking about the truth that he was barely known beyond aficionado circles in 1976) and David Bowie ( "Existence on Mars," possibly not your best option, since it includes the street "Nevertheless the film can be a saddening bore "). The climactic performance in the experience an outdoors set has charm, which is prettily lit and lensed by rising youthful d.p. Charlotte now now Bruus Christensen ("Submarino"). Barnard, who needed charge role inside the London stage version of "Spring Awakening," really features a fine number of pipes, and Driver (who's released a few solo albums among acting gigs) is pretty good, either, although she somewhat lacks color. How often that she's triggered to sing boosts accusations the pic may have been partly designed just like a vanity project to showcase its star's musical capabilities. Even though it really was produced before "Glee" started showing on tv, "Hunky Dory" nevertheless feels as if a latecomer cashing in around the possibly already waning fad for cover-version-based musicals. In contrast while using U.S. television series, the script by Laurence Coriat ("Me Without You") lacks wit, even composed of the degeneration of "Glee" within the this past year. Helming by Marc Evans is serviceable but underwhelming. Possibly, the pic's best moment is available in the conclusion, when subtitles reveal the bittersweet fates that befall a lot of the figures inside their senior years, adding a downbeat quality that slices a couple of from the sugariness in the preceding 109 minutes.Camera (color, widescreen), Charlotte now now Bruus Christensen music, Jody Talbot music supervisor, Liz Gallacher production designer, Jacqueline Abrahams art director, Carly Reddin appear (DTS/SDDS/Dolby Digital) supervisory appear editor, Stephen Griffiths re-recording mixer, Make the most of Hughes executive visual effects supervisor, Sean Farrow assistant director, Serta Mumford casting, Jessica Ronane. Examined at London Film Festival (Film round the Square), March. 21, 2011. Running time: 109 MIN.(British dialogue) Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com