Sing Street, teen-centred 80s tale, could be your next favourite musical, says CBC's Eli Glasner

Sing Street just might be your next favourite musical.

Director John Carney previously proved his melodic movie-making prowess with Once and Begin Again, both of which used music to great effect, with characters who channel theirangst into art.

Sing Street shifts the focus to Dublin during the 1980s atime that Carney remembers well. Inspiredby his own experiences, the film is set at a time when many dreamt of escaping economic blight by boarding a ferry to London.

Sing Street's Ferdia Walsh-Peelo on 80s influences

8 years ago

Duration 2:28

The star of the '80s-set coming-of-age film tells CBC's Eli Glasner about diving into Duran Duran, The Talking Heads and other 80s groups to build his character Cosmos.

The story centres around Conor (FerdiaWalsh-Peelo), a 15-year-old who uses music to tune out his parents'nightly arguments. With their divorce looming, heis sent to a cheaper Catholic school where he's atarget for bullies and a dictatorial headmaster.

But none of that matters afterConorspies Raphina, a blow-dried, bangle-clad vision of beauty.To impress her,heforms a band with other like-minded misfits. Propelled by the power of 1980s pop, eye shadow and copious amounts of hair gel, Conor (who renames himself Cosmo) begins to find his own voice.

Like a Mini-Pops version of The Commitments, Sing Street works as well as it does thanks to a great ensemble.

There's Mark McKenna as Eamon, the guitarist with a pitch-perfect deadpan.Lucy Boynton playsRaphina, the wannabe model who hides behind carefully applied layers of make-up.American Jack Reynor channels his inner Chris Pratt to play Brendan, Conor's stoner brother who super-charges the young musician with late-night listening sessions.

The band becomes proficient surprisingly fast, but you'll be too busy bopping your head to quibble. Like any great musical, this works because thesynth-driven songs move the story forward. In fact,Carneycollaborated with Scottish musicianGary Clark to craftthe pop tracks first, before buildingthe screenplay around them.

A boy falling for agirl who's out of his league is nothing new,but it's the open-hearted conviction of Carney and Walsh-Peelo's approach to thematerial that makes this movie sing.

With original songs inspired by 80s artistsfrom decedentDuran Duran to the angular Talking Heads Sing Street captures the happy/sad state of adolescence. It's acinematic ear-worm you won't want to shake.

RATING: 4 out of 5 stars