 "richies' reveiw" | 2009-11-12 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2C1G7VX7VUEBH |
this dvd movie with charlotte church is great has great story to tell
about family life the up and downs of it she is great in this movie so pick one up and enjoy it
my family did and are glad we did. |
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 "Great Film" | 2009-09-27 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3EKWYRGYO61HQ |
| I am very satisfied with this product. I received it within a week, it was in new condition and a great film. Amazon had the description of the cast wrong but the seller wrote back immediately to correct it. |
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| ""I'm rich and I'm Scottish. It doesn't get better than that."" | 2009-07-27 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2HVL790PBWYTU |
Followers of Welsh classical singer Charlotte Church don't necessarily feel the same way about Craig Ferguson, but this little movie serves as a happy meeting ground for both sorts of admirers, all respective parties mingling and having a pint or four and perhaps affably making disparaging remarks about Americans. Craig Ferguson, himself a musican in his younger years, writes, directs, and stars in I'LL BE THERE, a watchable 2003 family dramedy about a washed-up aging rock star (Ferguson) who, while wrongly consigned to a psychiatric ward, learns that he has a 16-year-old daughter (Church). And so cue the familiar plot points.
As a brawny, brawny man, I've only ever caught Charlotte Church on the telly by accident, but I'm not about to deny that the girl is gifted with an amazing singing voice. On the other hand, as a brawny, brawny man who also stays up really late, I frequently tune in to Craig Ferguson's late night talk show. I'm quite appreciative of his offbeat, amiably irreverent brand of wit and humor (I think his opening monologues, offhandedly delivered with that Scottish burr of his, are often little gems). I don't know that it's so surprising, but Ferguson and Church do well together onscreen. The film's focus is most definitely on the father-daughter angle, with a mere dollop thrown in of a romance between Ferguson and Jemma Redgrave, who plays the mother of Church's character. Charlotte Church, in her cinematic debut, performs as if this weren't her cinematic debut, and I only wish that her character were given more things to do (she doesn't even have a boyfriend, which is almost sacrilege in films like this).
What keeps me from giving this film a fully extended thumbs up is the leisurely pacing and the story's predictability. The happy ending is a mere formality. The only real speed bump to the impending familial bliss is that the mother, concerned that her daughter's heart may get broken, adamantly forbids her daughter and her suddenly discovered dad from getting to know each other. Anthony Stewart Head (Giles from BUFFY) also skulks on the screen as Ferguson's sleazy manager. Will the rowdy boozy rock god quit his yen for the sauce and sort out his other issues? Will the mother thaw out and rekindle a past romance (it was actually more of a groupie fling)? Will Ferguson and Church get a chance to rock out? What do you think?
Apropos of nothing, I somehow get a kick out of the rock star's keeping a llama on his lawn. I think, partly, it's because of the llama's name, which is Dolly (heh).
What I think is that I enjoyed this movie, despite its lack of momentum. Craig Ferguson is very agreeable and occasionally dispenses funny one-liners, and I think that's really him playing the piano and guitar. Charlotte Church gets to sing, but not often enough, and I did get irked that, other than "Summertime," the musical performances weren't allowed to finish out. It's a bit startling to hear Church branching out to pop music, but she mostly handles it well. However, her duet with Ferguson at the end is too short and her voice somehow gets drowned out. For those who like to soak in refinement, she does cover a classical piece in the opening scene, so that's a chance to elevate a cultured pinkie. Also keep an eye on Josh Ackland who plays a pub-performing rockabilly musician and Church's grandfather. Those who cater to grandpa's music generally tend to raise another sort of finger. |
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| "I'll Be There" | 2008-12-26 |
| - Reviewed By sdroster |
| As a big fan of Craig Ferguson I truly enjoyed this film. His directorial debut. Charlotte Church's voice is gorgeous. |
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| "Ferguson fans in for a treat" | 2008-12-02 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2HJVBUYLJA3PH |
| A film that's a lot of fun. If you're an admirer of Craig Ferguson, this will probably be one of your favorites. The story is good enough, the singing is fun and fine, Ferguson is a hoot and the ensemble cast brings it together well. Church's singing is beautiful. Not "the greates film ever made" but enjoyable and for Ferguson addicts, a real treat. |
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| "Funny and heartwarming British comedy you might overlook, but shouldn't" | 2008-09-11 |
| - Reviewed By bekintex |
If you enjoy British Comedy and good music from both the rock and roll and current day eras, you might want to give "I'll be There" a watch.
The premise, 80's hairband rocker Paul Kerr (Ferguson) crashes his bike through a window of his Welsh mansion. He wakes up in the hospital with what the docs describe as 'superficial damage.' The thing is, the hospital he wakes up in is a psych ward. The docs think his drunken escapade is a cry for help.
He gets that help and then some. Rebecca (Gemma Redgrave), who was a 48-hour-stand back in the 80's, shows up to tell him they had a daughter. Digger (Ralph Brown), the drummer in the Love Rats his old band, shows up to help him sober up.
Once Paul straightens out his life, he makes an attempt to know his daughter Olivia (Church). No surprise she's a singer. Musical talent runs on both sides of the family. Her Grand-dad is 70 and still touring with his rock and roll band.
There's not a lot of teenage angst here. As a matter of fact, young Olivia seems to be the best grounded of the lot. She knows what she wants from her life and she's doing her best to get it without hurting anyone. I'm definitely impressed by Charlotte Church's acting in this role. Also, you get to hear several songs from her, including:
Reach Out/I'll Be there
Summertime (from Porgy and Bess)
In Hebrid Seas
Would I Know?
The film's going to give you more than one good laugh from the psych ward to the old rocker's backyard. "I'll be There" is one film you may have missed, because it appears to be somewhat low-budget, but if you enjoy humor or Church's singing, you may want to give this one a watch.
Rebecca Kyle, September 2008
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