Sunny Dancer

A bit like "Ivy" (Bella Ramsey) herself, I was full of trepidation when her parents (James Norton & Jessica Gunning) suggest she spends a month at a summer camp. I was fearing that Ben Platt and Noah Galvin were going to lead us all on some sort of well intentioned sacharin-fest peppered with cheesy songs. Thankfully, well it's not that kind of camp. It is run by the enthusiastic "Patrick" (Neil Patrick Harris) and is designed to offer some respite for young adults recovering from cancer. She has been in remission for almost a year, but the disease and it's subsequent treatment has dented her confidence somewhat and latterly she has taken to only spending time with her parents or staying in her room. This will do her good, they think but she is somewhat more sceptical - especially after the expectedly nauseating induction. She is to share a cabin with "Ella" (Ruby Stokes) and to enjoy an whole range of "activities" that fill us all with a sense of dread! Luckily, her new roomie has a slightly more positive (and sexually-charged) outlook on life, and is also a regular at this annual jamboree and so refusing to allow "Ivy" to wallow by herself, the two are soon thick as thieves with "Archie" (Conrad Khan) and his entertainingly inept pal "Ralph" (Earl Cave); "Maisie" (Jasmine Elcock) and finally "Jake" (Daniel Quinn Toye) upon whom "Ivy" has a bit of an entirely reciprocated crush. What now ensues sees the gang try to put the issues of their real lives behind them for a month and to remember to enjoy their youth - and all of it's own concomitant challenges! Ramsey is on good form here, taking advantage of an authentically witty script from auteur George Jacques and a little bit of daft and nervous holiday romance with the equally engaging Toye. My favourite had to be Cave's foot-in-mouth "Ralph" whose dark sense of humour did make me laugh/cringe often throughout this youngster's-eye presentation of what life after and always with cancer could look like. If I'm honest, I didn't love the conclusion - even if that did feature James Blunt continuing to reassure us that he is not a man who takes himself at all seriously. It seemed unnecessary - but it also ensures that we don't just cruise down a predictable yellow brick road and it is typical of the enjoyable but touching and challenging realism this portrays. It's not a film about cancer, it's a film about the people it touches - either directly or more tangentially, and is really well worth a look.