Overrated

Rating: Null/10 (28 April 2004)

BILLY ELLIOT (2000) ** Jamie Bell, Julie Walters, Gary Lewis, Jamie Draven, Nicola Blackwell, Stuart Wlls, Adam Cooper, Jean Heywood. Overrated feel-good, emotions manipulator about a young English boy (Bell in a nice debut) who overcomes his surroundings (circa 1984's coal-striking setting) and family struggles to embark on a life as a balllet dancer with help from his tough-talking instructor (Walters). Predictable and a bit pretentious even though there is some fancy footwork on display and a change of heart turn by Lewis as Billy's hard-headed dad and the nice, throat catching moments with his addled grandmother . Good despite its premise directorial debut by theatrical director Stephen Daldry.