Sunny Dancer film review: Confronting coming-of-age comedy
The Last Of Us star Bella Ramsey’s newest project tackles teen cancer survival with tender and hopeful optimism
A 17-year-old cancer survivor enrolls in a summer camp with others who have been touched by the disease in this crowd-pleasing coming-of-age tale. Bella Ramsey (The Last Of Us) plays Ivy, a truculent teen whose parents (James Norton, Jessica Gunning) urge her to spend four weeks at CRF (Children Run Free) to bring their daughter out of her shell. Reluctantly she agrees, almost immediately clashing with Patrick (Neil Patrick Harris), the camp’s counsellor whose own personal life has been blighted by cancer.
Gradually, Ivy’s moodiness and isolation give way as she forges bonds with those around her; from her therapist (Shalom Brune-Franklin) to a high-octane roommate Ella (Ruby Stokes), and Jake (Daniel Quinn-Toye) whom she takes a shine to; meanwhile other sufferers in the group have had to endure the pity of those around them. Largely shot at Auchengillan Outdoor Centre near Loch Lomond, writer-director George Jaques’ empathetic script avoids the usual tropes of cancer films such as The Fault In Our Stars which tend to show ailing adolescents at death’s door. Instead, in a story about optimism and positivity, Sunny Dancer focuses on youngsters trying to live as normally as possible (making friends, getting drunk, sharing a first kiss, even falling in love) despite being dealt a brutal hand.
Between a cheesy celebrity cameo at the camp’s talent show and a tricksy narrative development that doesn’t quite come off, the final act is a little deflating. But Sunny Dancer is still blessed with terrific performances, especially from Ramsey who anchors the story with real believability. Borrowing heavily from films such as The Breakfast Club, scripted with black humour and scored with a lively soundtrack that includes Scissor Sisters’ infectious ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’’, this is ultimately an uplifting affair.
Sunny Dancer is in cinemas from Friday 14 August.