There's Only One Jimmy Grimble

In his first feature film director Jonathan Hay turned from television to the big screen with a story set in the soccer mad, industrial city of Manchester,  It is a desperate attempt to warm the cockles of our hearts.that over-shoots its goal despite the fact that the cast is seasoned, the subject matter - that of the awkward teenager/underdog - is universal, and the sport the most popular in the world.

The script is stilted and ultimately predictable, and the cast, despite their efforts, struggle with the rather dull and generic material. Robert Carlyle, as the forgotten soccer star turned school teacher, appears to be running on auto-pilot and Gina McKee churns out another turn as the single-mum-doing-her-best. The two actors who manage to hold their own in this wave of sentimental celluloid are Ray Winstone, who gives a solid performance as the good-natured and well-intentioned ex-boyfriend and the energetic Lewis McKenzie, as the boy wonder.

With some effective and exciting soccer scenes, and a suitably optimistic, up-beat soundtrack, this does have some saving graces, however, the film never manages to escape its made-for-television appearance. Although it attempts to ride on the back of typically British low-key success stories such The Full Monty (1997), in which Carlyle also starred, it drowns in its own mix of heavy handed direction and signposted metaphors and is saccharine, predictable fare.

 

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