Film Review: One Day

Yesterday evening, whilst my sister was off galevanting around the Peek District with her school, my parents and I decided to go watch the latest novel adaptation at the cinema, David Nicholls' One Day.

*Warning: Spoilers*

One Day tells the story of Emma Morley and Dexter Meyhew and covers their lives on the 15th July (also known as St. Swithin's Day) every day for twenty years, beginning on the day of their graduation in Edinburgh in 1998.

Emma (Anne Hathaway) is an smart, ordinary/unattractive working-class woman educated in Yorkshire at the local state school with few social skills and self-belief but a keen wit, whilst Dexter (Jim Sturgess) is a handsome, superficial upper-middle-class Wykehamist (a former pupil of Winchester College) with self-confidence to spare.

They meet (well, properly. They'd met for the first time when he crashed her birthday party, spilled red wine down her top and called her Julie) at the crack of dawn after a group of friends go out celebrating after graduation and, as the sun is rising start to break off and go home. Em, invites Dex back to her place where the potential night of passion gives way to an underwhelming cuddle and sets the story where the pair grow to become good friends and a shoulder to cry on during the years that follow.

After that it becomes an up and down as to will they get together oh wait maybe not, but how about now and oh no, they're off with that person.

Cover artwork for the novel



For once, this was a book I was not familiar with before seeing its adaptation on the big screen. Normally I've either read the book beforehand, such as Water For Elephants, Eragon and The Hunger Games and others I read when I heard they are becoming films, such as The Time Traveller's Wife and The Lord of the Rings. This meant I was not prepared for one particular plot twist ... Emma's quick and untimely death. Whizzing along happily on her cute old bicycle (complete with wicker basket at the front) she zooms out of a passageway straight into the line of a lorry. She doesn't make it. And the image of her lying on the road taking her last breath as you hear the answering message left to the husband, how she was sorry for the fight that morning, that she would be back late and yes, she loved him. What I got most from that moment was not the tear running down his cheek as he lay in bed that night, knowing that his wife would not actually be coming back, not late, not ever but the fact that everyone in the audience either gasped or jumped in their seat (my mother did both and the elderly ladies in the row in front had tissues out when the lights went up).



Theatrical release poster

The bit I enjoyed best was seeing Emma in Paris. With a Roman Holiday Audrey Hepburn-esque bob, little white gloves, cute detailed cap-sleeved blouse, pale-green pencil skirt and T-bar heels she oozes Parisian chic, charm and sophistication. Her other French outfit shows her in a beautiful blue halter-neck dress with black-and-white slingback heels. Truly lovely.

Overall, I enjoyed the film but it is not one I would rush back to the cinema and see again (I would like to go see The Help, one of the trailers we caught before the film began). It's cute, but we spent most of our time wishing that the two protagonists would simply get on with it and get together and wondering if they did have any other friends at all because I simply cannot understand what Emma was thinking when she decided to date wannabe comedian Ian (Rafe Spall, son of Timothy Spall, who else?).

The film, like it's characters, cannot decide what it is. It's certainly no romantic comedy, yet it lacks the depth and power of a good romantic drama.

Rating: three stars out of five. I wouldn't pick it out at a friends house when selecting DVDs, but I wouldn't walk out the room if it were on. It is enjoyable, but not too memorable and not a favourite.

Favourite Part: Anne's Audrey Hepburn-esque ensemble in Paris. Tres belle!

Worst Part: Anne's accent. I didn't know whether she was saying some things as a joke!




Emma: "Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today. I'll always remember it."

It's not up to me, just let me be Legally Blonde.

Yesterday afternoon Rachel, Hannah and I went to go see Legally Blonde the Musical on Tour at The Grand Opera House, York. It may not be the West End Cast, but it was still very enjoyable.

Having previously watched the entire musical online (the original Broadway version which was recorded and put onto YouTube along with behind the scenes sections and the lyrics on the screen for the audience at home watching it on the television) I was pleasantly surprised. I watched the film many years ago and whilst it may not be a favourite (I'm not a fan of films which are too predictable) it was enjoyable. It was silly and girly and fun, because the film didn't take it too seriously, but there were elements of meaning and significance with a little moral education at the end.

We get a little excited, waiting for the show to start

Overall, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the musical. Several of the songs are catchy but not as memorable as others and whilst some have elements of wit, they truly are moments. But it works, because it is not something which is supposed to be taken seriously (unlike the film), it's a musical! The opening number is entitled 'Omigod' after all, and it truly is an opening.

Having both versions of the soundtrack on my iPod (The Original West End cast with Laura Bell Bundy as Elle and the Original London Cast with Sheridon Smith who won an Olivier for her version of Elle) I was curious as to how the touring group would do. And I was pleasantly surprised. As critical as it sounds, I was not prepared for how good it would be. Sure, the sets were not as impressive as the ones in London or San Fransisco, but it is a touring group and therefore was expected. The cast however, did surprise me ... and in a good way.

L to R: Serena, Kyle, Elle, Paulette, Margot, Pilar, Vivian & Sassy gay hairdresser.

Little things that I loved:

o  Kyle (Lewis Griffiths): the sexy new UPS delivery man. He certainly had the package and let me just say, his ass was mighty fine in those very tight shorts. The show was almost worth it alone for that.

o  Paulette's gay assistant: unfortunately I don't know his name, but my goodness did he make us laugh. From the tight, sleeveless T-shirt, even tighter acid-wash jeans and *gasp* sequined Ugg boots he was a riot, even if like Kyle he had few lines.

o  Serena (Sinead Long) and Pilar (Micha Richardson): whilst their parts were few, they both demanded the stage (and not in an overpowering way). They were both incredible singers and managed to belt out their numbers powerfully and the acting was flawless (and I did like their outfits). Mad props ladies!

o  The sets: Whilst some I was a little disappointed with, having seen the filmed performance at the Palace Theatre in San Fransisco. However, they still worked really well. We all laughed when the court room was transformed into a bathroom, meaning that the judge had been seated on the toilet the entire time and the minutes were recorded on toilet paper, genius!

o  How tasteful Elle's outfits were: Being a stage production, I was expecting all sorts of fashion atrocities, considering they needed to be viewed from a far. These were kept to a minimum (with the worst by far being the one worn for Elle's first day at Harvard) and some I would even wear myself, such as Elle's navy pinstripe business suit (the pencil-skirt flared at the bottom and the matching jacket had suitable strips of pink, it worked!) and even her bright pink sheath dress (similar to this L.K.Bennett's Tina Dress).

So would I recommend it to a friend? Yes I would. It was a funny, feel-good fun musical which requires little to no concentration (so appropriate for most ages) and you don't need to know any background plot. The choreography was amazing! Does this mean I'd advise you to bring your boyfriend, even if it's 'something different to do together'? No. This isn't Mamma Mia!, you can't get away with it. Just use it as a night out with the girls, be they friends or family or workmates.

Hannah and Rachel have fun whilst we wait for the show to start

Rating: four stars out of five. It was thoroughly enjoyable but it would have been nicer to have some slightly more impressive sets and some costumes were a little too in-your-face for me, but that's due to the style of the musical.
Favourite Song: Positive (showcases the roles of Margot, Serena and Pilar - see above)
Favourite Part: When Kyle would deliver his package.
Worst Part: How flushed we got at all the arm candy on stage. Those men knew how to move!

So book your tickets (if you haven't already) and no-matter your mood, you'll feel So Much Better. (Edit: And you can read Rachel's review here: Legally Blonde in York)