Once Upon a time in the Midlands

3 Stars

Robert Carlyle Jimmy

Rhys Ifans Dek

Shirley Henderson Shirley

Finn Atkins Marlene

Ricky Tomlinson Charlie

Kathy Burke Carol

Directed by Shane Meadows. A drama with a comedic touch. Rated R (for language). Sony Pictures Classics. Running time: 104 minutes. Playing at Landmark Century Centre.

"Once Upon a Time in the Midlands" takes place in the modern day suburban Midlands of Scotland, and is not to be confused with the other current release, "Once Upon a Time in Mexico." Though both pictures owe their origins to the wonderfully entertaining spaghetti westerns of Italian director Sergio Leone, (the Clint Eastwood vehicles, "A Fistful of Dollars," "For a Few Dollars More," and "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly") and both complete film trilogies.

Director Shane Meadows, and his co-writer Paul Fraser, grew up watching westerns. Clearly evident here, the musical score has a western theme, cowboy hats and boots are part of the wardrobe, and there's even a lonely guitar player.

More subtle cinematic design comes through with the emptiness of the landscape and nearly deserted streets (although an urban setting), again, reminiscent of the western. Bad guys in hot pursuit complete the saga.

It all starts when the very sweet Dek (Rhys Ifans from "The Shipping News," and Hugh Grant's very briefly clad flat mate in "Notting Hill") proposes to long-time girlfriend Shirley (Shirley Henderson) on a live talk show, a la Jerry Springer. Umph! That's the wind being knocked out of him ¾ she turns him down.

Shirley's long-gone husband, Jimmy (Robert Carlyle, "Trainspotting," "The Full Monty) sees the show and decides to take off for the Midlands, to reclaim his wife and daughter. Besides, things are getting a little hot for him in the city.

No one is particularly happy to see Jimmy, not even his daughter Marlene and his sister Carol gets her fill of him pretty quick. Her ex-husband Charlie fancies himself a country and western singer, lives right down the block and spends most of his time at Carol's. Dek, Shirley and Marlene live across the street. It's a raucous, fun-loving family, created by caring and a bit of chaos ¾ what we've come to expect from quirky family comedies from Britain. And Jimmy doesn't count on Dek's determination to fight for the life they've all built here. As in those westerns, there's the eventual showdown on Main Street.