SoulBoy

Stars: Martin Compston, Felicity Jones, Nichola Burley, Alfie Allen, Brian McCardle, Jo Hartley, Pat Shortt, Shimmy Marcus, Mary Jo Randle

Director: Shimmy Marcus

A straightforward, but effective and music-filled romcom spun round the northern soul movement and set in the Stoke and Wigan of 1974. Delivery boy Joe (Compston) fancies hairdresser Jane (a poor role for Burley, who can't do anything to make her character sympathetic) and, learning she's into soul music, buries himself in it, risking initial scorn to be near her.

The local deejay's sister Mandy (the adorably toothy Jones) helps him with the dance moves, and Joe, with his opportunist pal Russ (Allen) is soon headed for Wigan's Casino Club, soon to be voted best disco in the world. It's also a magnet for drug-dealers, with Russ keen to get in on the action, and Mandy one of his first victims.

No prizes for guessing the developments, or eventual ending to this uncomplicated story, but the blue-collar vibrancy of the era is well captured. Jones and the ever-smiling Compston play well off each other, and there's a quite touching side story involving Joe's middle-aged (and thieving) delivery partner (Shortt) and the much-beaten wife of the local fish-bar owner.

Nice and short too.

David Quinlan

UK/Ireland 2010. UK Distributor: Soda Pictures. Technicolor.
80 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 1, Drugs 2, Swearing 2.

Review date: 30 Aug 2010