Director: Danny Boyle
Starring: James Nesbitt, Daisy Donovan, Alex Etel, Lewis McGibbon

- Reviewed by Vickie

Director Danny Boyle is known for his gritty, adrenaline-fuelled, sometimes shocking, often ridiculously entertaining films. Think Trainspotting. Shallow Grave. 28 Days Later. But with this lighthearted, warmhearted comedy-drama, the edgy filmmaker throws his signature style (save for the ridiculously entertaining part) aside in favor of a story that’s funny, touching and wholly endearing.

Set in Manchester, the film follows young brothers Anthony (Lewis McGibbon) and Damian (Alex Etel, on whose wee shoulders rests much of Millions’ emotional punch). Their mum has died and their single father (James Nesbitt) is doing his best to raise the lads on his own. But fate drops a duffel bag of cash (just over £2 million) in their laps and dramatically alters their life trajectories. Damian, who’s obsessed with the history of the saints, believes the money should be used to do good deeds and help the poor. Older brother Anthony, though, wants to keep careful count of the cash and to use it as a means of padding their lifestyle with goodies. Either way, the pair have their work cut out for them—the film is also set a week before England is to abandon the pound in favor of the Euro, so the brothers have to either spend the money or convert it. Not an easy task when it’s revealed that the bag of money was, in fact, stolen in a bank heist and the thief responsible is coming to collect his loot.

Adopting the tone of a kids’ adventure film, Millions seamlessly blends elements of comedy and fantasy with a typical caper picture. Watching the boys skillfully plot their moves is fun for children and grown-ups alike. Heck, I’m sure some of their schemes will be surprisingly clever to many audience members of all ages. And seeing the various saints offering their guidance, in what can only be described as a gleefully cheeky fashion, to Damian, is priceless.

Both young actors are terrific and, as mentioned, Etel turns in a sweetly unforgettable performance as a little boy who, essentially, just wants to know his mother is okay up in heaven. Boyle wisely resists the temptation to turn the tale into an overly syrupy one, which results in an even stronger tugging of the heartstrings amid the comic chaos.

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