I’ve already got a bit of history with this one. The hype has been unreal, to the point that it became the number 1 ranked film of all time on letterboxd before it even had a UK release date. Because of that, I’d been checking regularly for updates and had even tried to find a download for it because it was taking so long to get anything. Then Cineworld announced an unlimited screening, but it was the same day I was gonna be at a stag do for one of my best friends. Then Picture House announced an advanced screening the night before, which also happened to be the night before I was driving myself and four others up to Leeds for said stag do, setting off about 4 hours after the screening would’ve ended. So now I’m back in Brighton and I’ve finally seen it.
I’m not sure it lived up to the hype if I’m completely honest. There’s no doubt that it’s a well constructed, well made film, and one that certainly fits the scale that’s implied by its title, but I’m just not sure on it. I think the reason it’s doing so well with audiences is that there’s really something for everyone, if you want to cry, laugh, be excited or just have fun you’ll find something in this that will accommodate you. The problem with that, however, is that it can come across as a bit of a greatest hits playlist rather than something of the huge substance that it aims for.
My biggest criticism I suppose is that there’s multiple really sweet and touching character moments that could easily bring tears to the hardest of eyes, and there’s a huge existential theme that’s very interesting, but it’s all supplemented by a generic hero-villain thread in the middle. While all these things are going on that are absolutely brilliant, I just found myself really bored by the central conflict, and that’s a shame. I’m not sure it really lives up to a lot of similar films of smaller stature because of that, and honestly I don’t think this would’ve been so highly regarded if it was released at a time where character dramas were more popular.
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