Danny Collins

Dir: Dan Fogelman

2015

***

Inspired by a letter written by John Lennon to folk-singer Steven Tilson, Dan Fogelman's Danny Collins is a far more flamboyant version of the truth but very much a welcome one. Al Pacino plays washed up rock star brilliantly, his performance being the real reason to watch the film but that said, Christopher Plummer, Annette Bening and Bobby Cannavale are all impressive in their supporting roles. The premise is simple, a story of redemption, family and rock and roll. Unfortunately the story becomes somewhat convoluted towards the second half and what worked because of it's simplicity soon gets a little tired due to it becoming a little too complicated. A sub plot concerning the sickness of one of the key characters seemed a little overcooked and unnecessary and a lazy way out for the writers who could have thought of something a little more original when steering the story towards the idea of forgiveness. The very last scene makes up for this somewhat but the way other relationships are left, particularly between Pacino and Bening's characters, makes it a little underwhelming in places. It's not a very well written film, it's even a little bit cliched, but it's incredibly likable and thoroughly entertaining, and it certainly gives the viewer some food for thought with a few laughs along the way.