In the heat of the summer of 1976, keen drama teacher Vivienne fights sweltering heat and general teenage apathy to put on an end of year music version of Shakespeare's The Tempest. To engage her students, she uses hits of the time, which will be performed by a fresh young cast led by rising star Aneurin Barnard.
There’s at least one sub-plot too many, but audiences willing to suspend disbelief will be swept up as the greatest high school band in the history of music perform an impeccable selection of hits from The Beach Boys to ELO in preparation for their musical version of The Tempest.
There's lo-fi charm in the musical numbers and heartfelt turns from the young cast but the story drifts along without offering much that we haven't seen before.
In some respects the picture tries too hard to be too many different things, and Driver’s Viv feels underwritten, but the nostalgic, toe-tapping atmosphere and likeable characters carry the day.
If Hunky is hellishly clunky, it’s also good-hearted and well-intentioned with some laughs and decent tunes.
More wetly innocuous than it is actively engaging, it’s one to be filed under “poignant failure”.
In its goofy way, Hunky Dory is likable.
Highly likely to have you leave the cinema smiling, as if you had felt the warmth of 1976 again for real.
What this lacks in finesse it makes up for in honest-to-god enthusiasm.
If you can forgive the cliches and you’re in an undemanding mood, there are worse ways to spend two hours.
Minnie Driver as sweary/smokey inspirational teacher aside, not one destined for the annals of cinema.
The movie isn't bad. Driver is an attractive presence, and it isn't her fault that at times she appears unbearably smug and self-righteous.
Hunky Dory--if only it were.
Minnie Driver
Teens who fall to earth
Marc Evans
General release. Check local listings for show times.
RSS feed of Cinema reviews