If you’re into Indie musicals (or movies about music), and if you liked Once, then Begin Again is your lucky ticket.

The plot focuses on the two main characters and their separate back stories that eventually merge into the present:

Gretta (Keira Knightley) is the talented but shy girlfriend of sudden new pop sensation Dave (Adam Levine). Brought over to New York so he can record an album following his sudden success after doing a movie soundtrack, Dave and Gretta soon realise that their relationship might not be able to withstand newfound fame and fortune…

Music producer Dan (Mark Ruffalo) is out of chances. Once the greatest in the industry, he’s now an alcoholic who never comes to work, has a terrible relationship with his teenage daughter and ends up getting fired by his friend and partner Saul (Mos Def). That day he ends up wandering the streets of the Big Apple and happens to end up in a bar with live music…

Pushed by her longtime friend Steve (James Corden), Gretta ends up performing a song on stage. Fuelled by alcohol, Dan lets “the magic happen” and starts seeing a whole new side to Gretta’s song. Convinced she’s the next big thing, he asks to sign her. Unconvinced but up for a change, Gretta agrees to record an album outside in various NYC locations. Along with a group of talented musicians, the financial help of Troublegum (CeeLo Green) and a cameo by Dan’s daughter Violet (Hailee Steinfield), they create somethign that goes beyond music…

The songs are pretty good, if sometimes a bit simple (lyric wise), but you’ll end up nodding your head along anyway. Knightley, Corden and of course Levine all sing themselves, which is quite nice. It’s also not your straight forward romance of girl meets boy etc. The characters are more complex, they’re hurting and fixing them won’t be as easy as that.

A lovely movie which will brighten your day for sure!

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