As "Everybody's Talking About me" (2021 release from the UK; 115 min.) opens, we are informed that "This story really happened, then we added the singing and dancing". We are in "Sheffield, England" (about as blue collar a town as you'll even find, think of it as the UK version of Youngstown, Ohio), and Jamie delivers the morning newspaper as it's raining cats and dogs. It happens to be his 16th birthday that very day. Afterwards he gets ready for school, where in class he daydreams about a drag queen signing career. After school, his mum has organized a small birthday party. Her gift to Jamie is a pair of red sequenced high heel shoes that Jamie had been saving up for... At this point we are 10 min. Into the movie but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.
Couple of comments: this is the big screen adaptation of the UK musical of the same name that became an unexpected UK smash hit in the early 2010's. Making his feature film directing debut is Jonathan Butterrell, who also directed the original musical. It is the type of feel-good, against-the-odds, real life story that will surely pull at your heart (unless your hart is a stone). Newcomer Max Harwood is outstanding in the lead title role, and surely we have not seen the last of him. The production sets are lush when needed. Best of all, the music and lyrics sound and work great, smartly advancing the story.
"Everybody's Talking About Jamie" was supposed to have been released in theaters a year ago. Then a little thing called COVID-19 had different ideas. After multiple delays, Disney sold the movie to Amazon, which after a very limited theater run started streaming it on Amazon Prime this past weekend, and which is where I caught it. If you are in the mood for a light-hearted coming of age musical with top rate music and lyrics, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this is the big screen adaptation of the UK musical of the same name that became an unexpected UK smash hit in the early 2010's. Making his feature film directing debut is Jonathan Butterrell, who also directed the original musical. It is the type of feel-good, against-the-odds, real life story that will surely pull at your heart (unless your hart is a stone). Newcomer Max Harwood is outstanding in the lead title role, and surely we have not seen the last of him. The production sets are lush when needed. Best of all, the music and lyrics sound and work great, smartly advancing the story.
"Everybody's Talking About Jamie" was supposed to have been released in theaters a year ago. Then a little thing called COVID-19 had different ideas. After multiple delays, Disney sold the movie to Amazon, which after a very limited theater run started streaming it on Amazon Prime this past weekend, and which is where I caught it. If you are in the mood for a light-hearted coming of age musical with top rate music and lyrics, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.