A sunny look at the bright side of life

Her name is Poppy.

Once you meet her, you won't forget her.

Initially, you may be as annoyed by her as you are charmed. She's a bit much, but she insists we accept her on her terms. She has a remarkable capacity to see life as something to be lived with relish, with unshakeable idealism and good will. She is the life-affirming heroine of the new movie "Happy-Go-Lucky."

This is more a character study than a movie with a traditional beginning, middle and end.

We first meet her bicycling around London, waving at strangers and merrily dodging cars. We are inclined to go along with her gladness, as she is embodied by the beaming actress Sally Hawkins, although we suspect she may be a fool. Before long, Hawkins' performance, one of the year's best, wins us over. It is a major accomplishment, considering the world we left behind when we walked into the theater.

Poppy can find ways to get around economic crisis, political uncertainty and terrorist threats. Poppy is a force of nature - good nature.

She attempts to be pleasant with a grumpy book store clerk who is having none of it. When she walks from the shop, she finds that her bicycle has been stolen. "Oh, no, I didn't even get a chance to say good-bye," she chirps in wonder as she promptly decides it's time, after all, to finally take driving lessons.

Poppy is an elementary school art teacher with limited income, boyfriend troubles, a fellow teacher as an apartment roommate, a bully in her classroom and a driving instructor who may become a stalker. In other words, her joy is hard-won and not without complexity. It is this quality that will finally win over the cynics in the audience who would otherwise think she's just stoned.

Mike Leigh, the British director and writer with five Oscar nominations, has been a specialist in British working-class dramas, not usually with many smiles. His process remains mysterious and unique. According to all we know, he gets his cast together for weeks of rehearsals, acting out situations. From these improvised conversations, he fashions a script. In this effort, Poppy was not even initially the leading lady. It just worked out that way.

Sally Hawkins rises to the level of leading lady after working (in small roles) with Leigh in the memorable abortion drama "Vera Drake" (2004) and with Woody Allen in "Cassandra's Dream" (2007). At 32, she is a mature woman, not a starlet, and the daughter of well-known British children's book creators Jacqui and Colin Hawkins ("Mick the Pig"). She should be nominated for an Oscar for Poppy, even though the academy usually ignores comedic performances.

This is not a one-woman show though. There is another memorable performance - a disturbing one that provides a sobering antidote to Poppy's happiness. It is by Eddie Marsan as the driving instructor - paranoid, lonely and perhaps possessive. He's bitter about the world, and he's in no mood to put up with her foolishness, particularly the fact that she wears high-heeled boots to driving classes. Marsan's performance should place him in the best-supporting-actor Oscar race.

Leigh's minor characters are all well developed in a way that major characters might be in other films. For example, take a look at the flamboyant Spanish flamenco teacher who tries to give Poppy a bit of rhythm. You come away wanting to know more about her because you know enough to be teased.

You'll be glad you met Poppy. "Happy-Go-Lucky" (a title with at least a hint of irony) sends you away wondering if, in spite of everything, the world isn't a pretty good place after all.

If Poppy can be this happy, why can't we? Here, at least, is that rare movie that encourages us to give it a try.

Mal Vincent, (757) 446-2347, mal.vincent@pilotonline.com