Ok I really wasn't expecting much when I lazed on the couch late one afternoon. I was actually kind of tired but I came across this on HBO and happened to see it from the opening credits. I wasn't giving it a whole lot of thought or hope. But I soon found myself drawn in to a wonderful little story of overcoming adversity and winning in the end.
Irene is the classic overweight unattractive star of the movie wonderfully played by Michelle McLeod. Yes she is picked on, laughed at and bullied. Her mother (Anastasia Phillips) doesn't help either. But Irene has spunk and what she really wants is to join the cheerleader squad. Well given her weight and looks that's not about to happen and a perfect bully (Aviva Mongillo) tricks Irene into an idiot act and Irene in retaliation decks her. That gets her, Avivo and her boyfriend into trouble with the principal's office and they are all suspended and must spend two weeks community service at a retirement home. And it is from here that the film gets fun. Rather than mope Irene sets out to wake up the seniors, wonderfully played by Bruce Gray, Joan Gregson amongst others, by getting them up and dancing and convincing them that they can do it. Irene is guided by her spirit Geena Davis who constantly reminds Irene that she can do it. Naturally in creating her dance troupe there is some pushback from the manager of the seniors home played with perfect bitchiness by Scott Thompson as only he can do. Irene pulls in some others including the guy working as a cook who claimed that when you get out of prison working at a retirement home is the best you can do. As well a friend from high school who looked and acted like Scott Thompson from his Kid's in the Hall days wonderfully playing a "screaming queen.
It all comes together with a wonderful piece of dance set to Milli Vanilli's Blame it on the Rain and Irene wins in the end. Yes it is mushy and sentimental but it is done so wonderfully you don't care. No, it is not fall down hilarious but it has its moments of nice chuckles. And it is so heart warming you overlook its many flaws. And it is all set against the backdrop of Hamilton, Ontario. Yes it's a Canadian film. And it is a wonderful little film.
Irene is the classic overweight unattractive star of the movie wonderfully played by Michelle McLeod. Yes she is picked on, laughed at and bullied. Her mother (Anastasia Phillips) doesn't help either. But Irene has spunk and what she really wants is to join the cheerleader squad. Well given her weight and looks that's not about to happen and a perfect bully (Aviva Mongillo) tricks Irene into an idiot act and Irene in retaliation decks her. That gets her, Avivo and her boyfriend into trouble with the principal's office and they are all suspended and must spend two weeks community service at a retirement home. And it is from here that the film gets fun. Rather than mope Irene sets out to wake up the seniors, wonderfully played by Bruce Gray, Joan Gregson amongst others, by getting them up and dancing and convincing them that they can do it. Irene is guided by her spirit Geena Davis who constantly reminds Irene that she can do it. Naturally in creating her dance troupe there is some pushback from the manager of the seniors home played with perfect bitchiness by Scott Thompson as only he can do. Irene pulls in some others including the guy working as a cook who claimed that when you get out of prison working at a retirement home is the best you can do. As well a friend from high school who looked and acted like Scott Thompson from his Kid's in the Hall days wonderfully playing a "screaming queen.
It all comes together with a wonderful piece of dance set to Milli Vanilli's Blame it on the Rain and Irene wins in the end. Yes it is mushy and sentimental but it is done so wonderfully you don't care. No, it is not fall down hilarious but it has its moments of nice chuckles. And it is so heart warming you overlook its many flaws. And it is all set against the backdrop of Hamilton, Ontario. Yes it's a Canadian film. And it is a wonderful little film.