Customer Reviews

I'll Be There

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There's a reason why they talk about the "Voice of an Angel" -- it's because Charlotte Church certainly doesn't have the acting presence of one. Her acting debut "I'll Be There" is proof enough -- only the presence of its star got this tepid little drama into theatres, where it rapidly dropped out of sight. Rightly so.

Seventeen years ago, Paul Kerr (Craig Ferguson) of the Love Rats had a fling with a groupie at a concert. Fast forward to the present: Kerr discovers that unknown to him, his ex Rebecca (Jemma Redgrave) gave birth to a daughter, Olivia (Charlotte Church), who is now a well-adjusted paper girl.

The problem is, Olivia has been kept a secret from her dad. Rebecca is embittered, but Kerr wants to get to know his daughter, and similarly Olivia wants to get to know her father. Music seems to be the thing that will bring the angel-voiced girl and the burned-out rocker together, but Rebecca doesn't want her child to follow in her father's footsteps.

"I'll Be There" was hyped months in advance as being inspired by the life of actress Liv Tyler, who, despite being only in her twenties, has had an immensely interesting life. Well, maybe someday she WILL get a biopic, because "I'll Be There" is only similar in one way: It involves a rock star and his daughter. Otherwise, it is boring in about every way that Tyler's life is interesting.

With a forgettable script, not much humor and a goofy premise, the movie doesn't have a lot going for it -- it reads like a disgruntled teenager's absurdist fantasy, scripted for Church to act out. And not a terribly interesting teenager, either. It gets increasingly ridiculous when Olivia decides to pursue music to bond with Daddy Dearest; it's an obvious ploy to show off Church's vocal skills.

The best that can be said of Church's performance is that at times she looks sweet. As for acting talent, she is bland at best, but she does perform some good songs, and her voice is as pretty as ever. Just watch the songs and fast-forward her actual scenes. Redgrave does as good a job as she can, and Ferguson wrings some pathos from his performance as an aging rocker. His is the only memorable role in the film, and it's a shame that the movie didn't focus on him rather than the dull Miss Church.

Miss Church appears to have chosen a role that glorifies her in the middle of an atrocious film -- also known as the Britney Spears approach. "I'll Be There," but I promise I'll get out as soon as I can.

Charlotte's voice is amazing in this movie and Craig Ferguson was fun to watch. I've always liked his films because he seems so easy going and interesting. Charlotte's voice game me chills!

It's a cute story of a girl who finally meets her rock n roll father and develops a bond through music. But, it wasn't easy with a protective mother who still feels wronged after 17 years.

I never listen to critics since they usually like what they like and really care little about the publics perceptions. If you go into it without any expectations just purly to relax and enjoy then this is the movie to see. Especially for the kids. It's truly a movie about forgiveness, pursuing your dreams, and family.

I actually really enjoyed this movie. I think that Charlotte Church really shines and proves that she is a very diverse, talented person. She proves that she can sing things other than just classical music and she can sing it incredibly well. I am a huge fan of Charlotte Church, which is why I saw it in the first place. She really does shine in this movie, which is why I gave it a higher rating.

On the other hand, it is very "British" if you know what I mean. The British humor is pretty funny, but it is a little hard for me to find sense in some of it toward the end. Also Craig Ferguson's character has a "colorful" vocabulary, mainly in the beginning, which I got sick of. If it weren't for these things, I would have given it five stars simply because Charlotte Church is truly amazing. She's not a bad actress, either. All in all, it was worth seeing, and I'd definitely see it again.

This movie is easy to rate - couldn't get enough. It is a very good movie with a lot of funny snaps. The pet's name, Digger's coment on Scottish women are two that come to mind. Where's the sequel? She has to graduate from the Academy, right?

Critics are being awful to this film and it flopped at the cinema and after I watched this DVD I asked myself why. Despite what you may of heard, this film is actually quite good. Its a good British film and beats a lot of other comedies out there. Craig Ferguson was aboslutely brilliant in his role and wrote a fantastic script, he has the best lines. Jemma Redgrave wasn't the best I had seen. It was painful to watch her sometimes. As for Charlotte, she was awkward in parts but mostly, she fitted into her role well. Other great characters, Ralph Brown and the bands manager (from buffy) were also great fun to watch. This film is just so charming I dont understand why it has done so bad. Its a film for anyone, but uses explicit language a lot (mainly from the rockers). There are laugh out loud moments and the directing I thought was really thoughtful. The best scene of the whole film is the first one, with the mixture of Olivias singing in the church and her long lost Father rocking about alone in his mansion drunk off his face. Its not a perfect piece of cinema of course, it has flaws, like some of the acting (ok, just Jemma Redgrave) and Craig putting flashbacks in but its an original british film which should be appreciated by all, not just Charlotte fans.

To the point then! Been done been done been done, Very predictable from start to finish, Boorish, D grade in writing. Charlotte of course had a great voice at the time. But as of late we all know the voice is sinking slowly in the sunset.

I find myself with no choice but to fully and enthusiastically endorse zansma's review. This truly is one DVD any fan of Charlotte Church should add to their collection - a must-buy of the best kind! As of last night, I've not only managed to see this cute (yes, that word again, zansma) little film in a 'local' cinema, for which I travelled 60 miles each way for the privilege, I now have it on DVD, too. OK, so it's the British version (Region 2), but in all other respects it is identical, right down to the last laugh. Funny and sad, hilarious yet down-to-earth, this film not only spins a nice enough little story, but tells it well, and to all age groups of 12 and above. Charlotte gives an excellent first Big-Screen performance as Olivia, hairdresser-to-be (Mum - played by Jemma Redgrave - hopes), and emerging singer (Dad - Craig Ferguson - proves). If you need to know more about this film, before or after buying yourself a copy, drop by Charlotte's UK Fans site, www.JustCharlotte.co.uk, check out the films section, and enjoy! This DVD is now available on both sides of the Atlantic. Please don't miss out. This film deserves a Five Star rating from me, and gets it. Every other viewer I've spoken to so far has said they've enjoyed it too.

Simon | JC Webmaster

This was the cutest movie. Am so impressed with Charlotte Church's acting and Craig Ferguson's writing. I had only ever seen him on Drew Carey and this is quite the departure. That thick Scottish accent is very appealing. Where's the soundtrack?!

Thousands of low budget movies are released on DVD/Video every year. Most, without fanfare. This film won several awards, at a number of Film Festivals, throughout North America last year. Those audiences loved this British import. They laughed and then laughed some more. But I guess the lack of violence, sex, drugs and gore can kill a film's chance for financial success. So money is not spent to promote the film and it has gone directly to DVD/Video. What a shame. It also has a plot!!! It tells a story and has a purpose.

This was written and directed by Craig Ferguson...his first venture on that side of the camera. You know Craig, he has appeared on the Drew Carry Show in the US but he is known mostly in the UK. He had a new acting talent in mind, when he wrote the role of Olivia...Charlotte Church. This movie is NOT about Charlotte Church but it is her acting debut in the movie business. Up until now, she has been better known as a singing phenomenon..."Voice of An Angel". Those of us familiar with her vivacious personality, can better appreciate the fact, that she plays a totally different person in her role as Olivia. We also get a chance to hear her sing...worth the price of the DVD alone. The other cast of characters are also experienced actors, one of which you will recognize...from a coffee commercial on US TV several years ago.

This is the type of film that leaves you smiling at the end. You are sorry it is over. You will find yourself pulling it off your bookshelf over the years and watching it again. This is not a Disney type film. The language is raw at times and we also get to see more of Craig Ferguson than we might want...and I do not mean his screen time is too long.

No one will win an Oscar or a Brit or any other fancy award. There are flaws and Craig's first attempt at writing and directing, demonstrates a need for polish.

So, just enjoy this movie for what it is...a movie that makes you feel good....nothing wrong with that folks.

I put off watching this movie for some time. I've had a hard time accepting the fact that the Charlotte Church so many of us fell in love with, seemingly one of the last remaining bastions of wholesomeness and all-around purity in this world, has caught a virulent case of Britney-itis (and has actually sunk even lower than Britney in a fair number of ways) and is seemingly lost to us forever. I'm really quite saddened by the whole situation. Nevertheless, I can still adore the girl Charlotte Church used to be, and, happily, there are traces of that girl immortalized forever in this film. I was actually quite surprised by I'll Be There; Charlotte's no Jodie Foster, but she's a far better actress than I expected her to be, and this really and truly is a good movie. It doesn't take us anywhere we've haven't been before, but it's a fun ride.

Charlotte plays Olivia Edmonds, a teenaged girl who finds out that her father is actually famed aging rock star Paul Kerr (Craig Ferguson), just after he makes headlines for driving his motorcycle out a second story window of his home. Olivia's mother never told her the truth about her father because the relationship was short-lived (Kerr never even knew he had a daughter) and she resents the fact that her own still-rocking father was never there for her growing up. She wants Olivia to join her hairdressing business and stay away from musicians at all costs. We all know Charlotte has the best singing voice in the whole bloody kingdom, but her mother does not realize just how talented her daughter Olivia really is. Anyway, Olivia and Kerr slowly develop a relationship with one another, helped immeasurably by Kerr's decision to stop drinking - but dear old Mum wants nothing to do with the man she's obviously still in love with. Everything comes to a head when Olivia's talent is made manifest, and you can probably fill in the rest yourself.

As I said, I'll Be There doesn't break any new ground, but it's a feel-good movie that succeeds extremely well. Craig Ferguson makes it all work and injects a lot of comedy into everything he does. As writer, director, and star, this really is Ferguson's baby and should have enjoyed more success than it achieved. It even supplies the somewhat disconcerting sight of the Buffyverse's Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) playing a smarmy music agent - earrings and all. Of course, you also have the added attraction of several Charlotte Church songs (even if they do represent her early foray into pop). All told, I'll Be There is a surprisingly entertaining, heart-warming motion picture - and those are few and far between these days.