One Chance

It's hard to criticize such an earnest story, which follows a man who seems like the kindest, least egocentric winner of any talent competition. Corden, whose singing voice was dubbed by the real-life Potts, does a fine job with the role, which requires him to make a sweet, nerdy, opera singer deserving of a feature-length film. So what is it that makes Paul stand out among all those other fame-hungry contestants? Well, he's actually quite talented, and he's not obsessed with the spotlight so much as expressing himself artistically in the only way he knows how -- through song.

Potts' on-screen support is played by his hilariously lazy store manager Braddon (comedic actor Mackenzie Crook, best known for The Office and Pirates of the Caribbean); his patient, ever-encouraging love, Julz; his loving mother (Julie Walters, once again playing a fierce mama bear); and his father (Colm Meaney), who doesn't understand why Paul can't be content with a mine or factory job like him and his mates. The secondary characters add much-needed spice to the otherwise vanilla story. Even though it's occasionally bland and predictable, there's an adorably winning quality to Corden's portrayal of Potts, so by the time he's on Britain's Got Talent, we're all cheering for him to belt out his aria and prove Pavarotti wrong.