I'll Be There (2003)

Best movie of this year hands down!

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

When you have watched this show for the 20th time in a year since you got the DVD and you keep getting flashbacks of incidents in the movie all the time it indicates that you like the movie To me it's like a drug Although I know the story through and through it is a beautiful story People.say the are no hidden messages in the movie but when you can find things that relate to.your life it makes it a memorable one In a way it has connections to another movie called Baby on Board And illustrates the dangers of jumping to conclusions before establishing the true facts of the matter Also having people who could not care can ruin a relationship In Baby on Board the miscommunication lasts 9 months and I this one 16 years This is a movie that is well worth watching over and over again Some of the dialogue is fast and snappy and it makes the movie One scene near the end will go over children's head's but adults will catch it quickly

I bought this DVD in the cheap bin just to see Charlotte Church. I am a big fan of her singing and I figured it would be worth $5 to see her in this. What I got was a bigger, very pleasant surprise. This is a nice romantic comedy with well-drawn characters. Plus, young Charlotte shows that she is a very good, natural actress. And, she even does a bit of singing.The main character is played by Craig Ferguson. He is Paul Kerr, an apparently washed-up, alcoholic rock musician. At the beginning we see him in a sad state, riding his off road motorbike inside his house, up the stairs, and right out the window and into the fountain below. In split screen we see young Olivia (Charlotte Church) practicing a hymn in church with her voice coach, contrasting the lives of Olivia and Paul. This is important as the story develops.Jemma Redgrave plays Olivia's mum Rebecca. She and a partner run a hair styling business and Rebecca expects her daughter Olivia to join her in the business after she finishes school. But Olivia has no interest in that, she loves to sing.So, this movie is about the various characters mending their attitudes, and healing old hurts. It is very well done, a very enjoyable movie that never gets dull. Charlotte sings a bit, but only a bit.SPOILERS FOLLOW. We find out that Paul is really Olivia's father, and this all comes to light after Paul's fall, with everyone fearing he will die. But he is not badly injured. Still, they think he may be suicidal so he is put into a mental ward. Friends pretend to be his family, get him out, but an old musician friend and reformed alcoholic shows up to help Paul kick his habit. In the process he finds out that not only does he have a daughter, but she sings beautifully. Mum was been upset for 16 years because none of her letters were ever answered, but Paul found out that his manager never gave any of them to him. Long story short, Paul stays sober, he and Rebecca realize they have always loved each other, Olivia gets to go to London and study singing.

I never got the chance to see the movie while it was in the theaters but I bought the DVD as soon as it came into the stores. I have been a big fan of Charlotte Church since I first heard her "Voice Of An Angel" CD. I was hesitant about her performance as an actor because I didn't want to witness her doing something less than brilliant. I was very pleased. Her acting ability is fabulous. She is definitely a multi talented performer. Bravo Charlotte.I also loved the story line and scope of the movie. It made me laugh, cry and applaude several times through the movie.I am very pleased that I bought the DVD. I watch it several times a month.

It is sad that this beautiful film didn't do as well in the theater. I only heard about it because I saw a big poster at Wal-Mart, advertising the DVD release, and thought, "Charlotte Church in a movie? Cool!" Anthony Stewart Head seems to be trying to shed his "charming gentleman" persona from coffee commercials and _Buffy_ (though he played something of a bad guy on _VR5_).As a Romantic comedy, I think it's a fine film, _The Parent Trap_ without the annoying slapstick. But I agree with "Drumicon" that the singing seemed off. Charlotte has a beautiful voice, but she doesn't seem to know how to sing pop--even her Christmas album is too "slow." This is a love story not just about a man and a woman, but about family. This is also a romance in the proper sense, idealizing the sad realities of "the music industry."