Very Annie Mary (2001)

Idea: Annie Mary (Rachel Griffiths) lives under the tyrannical rule of her tenor father, Jack (Jonathan Pryce). He controls nearly every aspect of her life until he suffers a stroke while performing one day. Although she is forced to take care of him and his bakery, Annie Mary seizes this opportunity to strike out on her own, doing things like joining a girl band and raising money for her sickly best friend, Bethan Bevan (Joanna Page), to go to Disneyland.

As much as I have made a case for British films being much funnier than American ones, I think the Welsh are giving them a run for their money.

Comedic plot lines are often as predictable as they come, and I'm happy to overlook that aspect as long as they keep me laughing.

Sara Sugarman's screenplay and direction has laughs in no short supply, although she occasionally falls back stereotypes to keep them coming. On the other hand, Ioan Gruffudd (Hob) and Matthew Rhys (Nob) as the two gayest men in gaytown singing "Annie Get Your Gun" was a sight to behold. Unfortunately, Rhys also has to deliver the cruelest lines in the movie, and they are a painful comparison to Hob and Nob's previous strong support for Annie Mary's emancipation.

Pryce, as always, is a nasty character. It's a little disappointing that he spends the second act doing little more than drooling and giving his daughter dirty looks. Even so, his temper and disappointment in himself is comedic gold.

Griffiths, who I have enjoyed for some time now, is oft inspired as someone far too old to be living the life she's in. There are times, unfortunately, when both her energy and the movie's energy wane.

The real disappointment, though, was the shocking sexuality of the latter half of the movie. I just didn't understand why that was suddenly thrown in there.

Overall, I enjoyed it, but I think the Welsh can still do better.