First Take: Pixie- how not to answer Ireland’s call

SYNOPSIS: To avenge her mother’s death, Pixie masterminds a heist but must flee across Ireland from gangsters, take on the patriarchy, and choose her own destiny.

One of the brilliant things about the blockbusters getting delayed is the ability for indie films to get much wider releases- and this one is a prime example of such a wide release. It would’ve been a low brow release a year ago, but having seen Pixie, it has a lot of charm to it, and very Inbetweeners style humour too.

Barnaby Edwards is in charge here, and even with his mixed record (he is the co-director of the two St Trinians films a few years ago), he is able to craft a very neat film that clocks in at 94 minutes- and with a script from Preston Thompson, there is enough material to get plenty of laughs, as well as some clever subversions of the crime comedy genre. John de Borman does a good job behind the camera, and the score from David Holmes and Gerry Diver is a Ronseal job- it does what it says on the tin.

With the cast, Olivia Cooke is on form as ever, and supporting her is Ben Hardy (of Bohemian Rhapsody fame) and Daryl McCormack- while their accents are relatively questionable, the trio have some incredible on-screen presence that makes this film come alive. Throw in some great work from Colm Meaney, Dylan Moran, Ned Dennehy, and (somehow) Alec Baldwin, and you have a really well made Irish film that has a lot of mainstream appeal, as well as some true independent styling.

THE VERDICT

Pixie is a brilliant little film for those who are desperate for a relatively lighter new release- obviously it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it passed the 6 laugh test with flying colours, and at 94 minutes long, who can argue with that?

RATING: 4/5