Given the vast amount of manufactured, Simon Cowell creations that now exist in the world, it was inevitable that one of these inspirational tales would be eventually be brought to the big screen, and it seemed somewhat apt for the very first to be that of Paul Potts – the winner of the first Britain’s Got Talent. One Chance, directed by David Frankel is a film that feels as commercially manufactured as the shows of which it’s depicting, yet that is by no means a bad thing – because more often than not, that guarantees to be a sure-fire hit.
James Corden plays Potts, depicting his rise from being a shop assistant as Carphone Warehouse, to being the toast of the nation, and performing live before the Queen. Growing up in Port Talbot where he is hopelessly in love with Julia-Ann (Alexandra Roach), the youngster suffers drastically from a loss of confidence, despite his dreams of one day being a successful opera singer. Raising enough funds to move to Venice and go to a specialised music school, his unproductive meeting with his idol Pavarotti sends him back home a disheartened man. However with some much needed confidence from his girlfriend and best friend (Mackenzie Crook) alike, he decides to give his career ambitions another shot, in spite of the continuous bad luck he seems to be subjected to.
Though on the surface this tale in inspiring, given the vast amount of talent shows on TV these days, and winners who have come from humble backgrounds, Paul’s life-story isn’t particularly unique and merely feels like an account of events we’ve heard a million times before. Because, well, we have. Fear not though, because writer Justin Zackham has taken it upon himself to use up every ounce of his poetic licence, and simply make stuff up. In real life he’s not from a small town in Wales, he’s from Bristol. In real life he was elected as a member of the City Council, which is conveniently avoided in the film. In real life, he decided to give up on his Italian venture because of the cost of living. Not because Pavarotti told him he was rubbish. Oh, and somewhere along the lines he also won £8k on Michael Barrymore’s My Kind of People – but since when was that important?
One Chance is also highly cliched and overly sentimental in points, where some of the dialogue is breathtakingly cringeworthy. Thing is, the sort of people who were emotionally invested in Paul’s Britain’s Got Talent journey and voted for him to win, are exactly the same sort of people who will enjoy this movie, for all of its conventionality. Frankel must therefore be commended for identifying his target audience (in all of its millions) and making a film for them – and he should reap the benefits as a result. Meanwhile there is the occasional moment that’s truly funny, as Corden’s impeccable comic timing comes in rather handy in some instances. It’s a decent performance from the actor too, though question marks remain over his casting. You never once forgot that it’s James Corden playing Paul Potts, and sometimes as far as biopics are concerned, slightly less distinct and recognisable actors are preferential.
On a somewhat different note, One Chance is certainly a tear-jerker, albeit emotionally manipulative (it works, okay!), but then again Frankel is the man behind Marley and Me, so what did we expect? Oh and on a brief side note, remember that Paul Potts took part in the very first series of Britain’s Got Talent, so this review comes with a compulsory Piers Morgan appearance notification. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
[Rating:2/5]
