Grumpy misanthropic bar owner Jacques (robustly played with considerable cantankerous panache by Brian Cox) becomes a mentor to sensitive homeless young man Lucas (a fine and likeable performance by Paul Dano). Complications ensue after Lucas meets and falls for fellow lost soul April (an appealing portrayal by Isild Le Besco).
Writer/director Dagur Kari relates the engrossing and affecting story at a deliberate pace, maintains a charming whimsical tone throughout, presents a colorful array of quirky minor characters, and further spices things up with an amusing sense of offbeat, yet often crude and rowdy humor (the various coarse life lessons Jacques teaches to Lucas are frequently quite hysterical). Moreover, Kari not only gives this picture a teeming surplus of pure uplifting heart, but also makes a poignant central point on how one person can have a significant positive impact on another person and neatly pulls off a deliciously ironic happy ending. Cox and Dano display an utterly engaging natural chemistry in the lead roles. Rasmus Videbaek's faded color widescreen cinematography provides an appropriately washed-out look. A nice little movie.
Writer/director Dagur Kari relates the engrossing and affecting story at a deliberate pace, maintains a charming whimsical tone throughout, presents a colorful array of quirky minor characters, and further spices things up with an amusing sense of offbeat, yet often crude and rowdy humor (the various coarse life lessons Jacques teaches to Lucas are frequently quite hysterical). Moreover, Kari not only gives this picture a teeming surplus of pure uplifting heart, but also makes a poignant central point on how one person can have a significant positive impact on another person and neatly pulls off a deliciously ironic happy ending. Cox and Dano display an utterly engaging natural chemistry in the lead roles. Rasmus Videbaek's faded color widescreen cinematography provides an appropriately washed-out look. A nice little movie.