Mike Leigh's done it again ... for fans and detractors alike! Poppy, his latest creation, sails through this slice of life with a smile on her face, fun on her mind and kindness in her heart.

Irritating? I didn't think so. On my good days, I rather hope there's a little of her in me.

For me, she was quite brilliantly brought to life by the excellent Sally Hawkins. Ironically, if she calls to mind any other inhabitant of Planet Leigh then it's probably Jane Horrocks's rather more sour Nic (or was it Nat?) in Life Is Sweet.

And Poppy has much to be happy about. A true friend, with whom she shares a not-too-shabby flat in a Finsbury Park that I shall not stoop to comparing with the N4 district of my own experience. A job she was born to do, among supportive colleagues. An enjoyable social life, memories of travels past, a cool reetro bike (for a while, at least ... ) and a wardrobe straight out of (ahem!) an Australian's nightmare all go to emphasise the message given by the film's title.

Into her life ambles driving instructor Scott, played by the ever-welcome Eddie Marsan, and the real fun begins. If Poppy can be said to stroll across the surface of life's duckpond without even getting the soles of her cowboy boots wet, then Scott is a man slowly drowning. The film's strongest plot line (this *is* Mike Leigh!) charts the evolving relationship between these apparent opposites,and the interplay really lights up the screen.

To say more would dent your enjoyment should you decide to go and see for yourself! If you go by bike, remember to lock up securely or - better still - maybe your best friend will take you along in her "mad" yellow car.

However you get there, why not let Poppy's attitude infect you for a few hours after you leave? It probably will anyway ...

Films with positive and uplifting themes are currently desirable. We need, as a society, instruments to convey this kind of messages and allow us to be better and act better. And this film is very good, engaging, cheerful and inspiring.

The script is undoubtedly one of its main strengths: original, creative, positive and lively, it revolves around Poppy, a primary school teacher who insists on looking at life on the positive side, always showing happiness, with a smile on his face and a joke on the tip of his tongue. She is one of those people who would be able to raise the morale of a funeral and who does good to all the surrounding people, starting with the small revolted child and ending with the bitter and permanently unsympathetic driving instructor.

The main problem with all this is that the success of the film depends largely on how the viewer accepts the character. People who, like me, sympathize with her, will see and probably like the film, while people who are irritated by her permanent joy and inability to take anything seriously will probably leave the theater on the first half hour. In fact, just as there are many people who like to see the bright side of life, there are also a lot of people for whom this is unacceptable, it is taking the seriousness of serious matters and making life a joke. Another important problem with this film, for me, is its slow pace and excessive length. When I saw the film, I felt that the story told dragged on at several moments, and it did not justify two hours length. There are several scenes that, on the editing table, could have been shortened without damaging the film, shortening it by about half an hour.

The cast is good and does a nice job. Of course, Sally Hawkins is the actress who carries the film with a well-made performance, which can be viewed in many ways. In fact, if we want, we can observe the work of the actress and question Poppy's psychology: if it is true that there are a lot of people who use her contagious joy to hide very hard bitterness or severe depressions, we can question how far Poppy is happy and if her joy was not also a psychological defensive mechanism. There are moments when the character reveals a more serious, sensitive side, and these are nuances that the actress knew how to explore. Eddie Marsan makes a good counterpoint in the role of Scott, the driving instructor, and offers us interesting film work around dislike and anger.

Technically, the film is quite regular and does not bring us anything truly remarkable, except for a few details, such as the discreet use of a good soundtrack, the realistic sets and the colorful and cheerful costume of Poppy, which displays everything what the character is inside. The detail of the boots is particularly interesting and revealing, since it is a type of footwear that brings together durability, versatility and comfort, which also reveal a certain relaxed pragmatism of the character. Mike Leigh's direction is solid and consistent. The cinematography is good, and I particularly liked the visual style, which seems a little inspired by Woody Allen, another director who offers us light and animated comedies.