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 A charming, quintessentially British film May 28, 2006
muddy-funster (Kent, England)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
A moving tale of a young man "discovering himself" via various episodes on his journey across the "heartlands" of northern England. Some wonderful photography and very funny performances from well-known stalwarts of UK television. Sheen is superb in the central role, despite looking at times like an Aardman animation.
Kate Rusby is a definite bonus, although more credit is due to her other half McCusker (who also gets a brief, but unannounced, appearance) for the background music. Somehow, however, Eric Bristow's tiny cameo seems more attuned to the feel of the film.
The film is symbolic rather than realistic: As others have pointed out, if the central character had happened to own a motorbike, rather than a moped, his journey would have taken a few hours, thereby denying him the chance of such magnificent spiritual growth. And in common with many films set in England, the place has been cleaned up a bit - there isn't a hoodie or McDonald's in sight.
But don't let that put you off. This is charming, skilfully made, funny and affecting stuff - exactly what a British film should be all about.
 DO judge a DVD by its cover October 5, 2005
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I was sold by the striking and quirky cover of this DVD, and I was not disappointed at all. It really sums this great film up without words. It's a very warm, gentle, moving and uniquely British road movie, swapping the convertible for a Honda 50, the rebel for a mild mannered 'loser' and the Highway for the back roads to Blackpool. Great story, wonderful cast, some absolutely stunning cinematography and a fabulous soundtrack including a cameo from Kate Rusby make this an all round superb buy on DVD. It's a real blend of the best that British movies can offer, with all the quirkiness, style, humour, realism and emotion but without overdoing it in any area. The reversed road movie 'pull-away' at the end just rounds it off a treat and you are left with a smile on your face. Great movie.
OK, Kate rates the fourth star January 6, 2005
Wez (Kent, England)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Achingly slow and deliberately downbeat road movie which lifts from its old school 'grim oop North' opening to a sequence of dream like encounters with odd ball characters as the anti hero trundles across the Pennines on his Honda moped. The impossibly lovely Kate Rusby steals the film with a cameo as herself (her greatest hits make up the soundtrack to the second half) and the film has some nice moments, my favourite being the hero playing hopscotch with the shadow of a windmill. Whilst a bit too knowingly whimsical for its own good, it is still a touching and pleasing little film, and Kate Rusby earns it the forth star.
Miramax couldn't keep a good film down... January 21, 2005
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Allegedly the disagreement between the film's director and Miramax led to this brilliant film being effectively suppressed before it screened very much in the UK but Buena Vista are believed to have been responsible for making it available on DVD and not before time. Beautifully filmed it portrays much more than just a twit on a 50cc moped going from Rotherham to Blackpool and seemingly taking in much of Derbyshire en route. Bearing in mind that he wouldn't be able to take the Motorways on his Honda, it is amazing that he even makes it to Blackpool. There are cameo appearances from some well known British actors and of course the legendary folk couple Kate Rusby and John McCusker whose music compliments the films so aptly. This is the Yorkshire working persons version of Easy Rider with darts and fleetingly, Eric Bristow! LOL, LOL, LOL, LOLTIFOTFLOL...
In a nutshell... December 15, 2005
k daly (somewhere far away)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
this is a fine film. It deserves to be seen widely, yet i really want to keep it to myself as some kind of hidden treasure. Beautiful story, beautiful theme, beautiful soundtrack.It's a slow burner, but packed full of charm. In a cynical world we need more films like this.
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