Watch I'll Be There For Free

I love this movie so much

Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

Best movie of this year hands down!

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Grace Slick, lead singer of the Jefferson Airplane, once said in an interview that there was something pathetic about 50-year-olds playing rock and roll. Grace should rent THIS film, if for no other reason than to see Joss Ackland as Evil Edmonds and his geriatric band, the BeeLzeeBOPS, prove you're NEVER too old to rock. I've been a fan of Ferguson since his days on the Drew Carey Show and enjoyed his two previous films, which he also co-wrote. Somehow I missed this one until recently, which is a shame since it's also his directorial debut. Much has been written about the film as a Charlotte Church vehicle which it really isn't. What it IS is a heart-warming family drama/comedy/musical about lost & re-found love, personal redemption, family values and friendship. Ferguson, who also wrote the screenplay, uses his own personal experiences as an 80's rocker and alcoholic to inform his story without descending into mawkish sentimentality.Here Be Spoilers: The story revolves around Ferguson's Paul Kerr, an 80's rocker on the downside drinking his way into oblivion. After a drunken motorcycle accident lands him in the psych ward under suicide watch, he finds out he has a daughter named Olivia he never knew about, played quite winningly by Ms. Church, from a one-night-stand that he never forgot. This revelation, along with the arrival of his former band-mate and drummer, help him to quit drinking and begin to forge a relationship with his daughter both as a father and as a musician. This also allows him to finally reconnect with Olivia's mother, played quite well by Jemma Redgrave, while helping her to see her child's enormous gift and realize that he really HAS always loved only her. Toss in Joss Ackland's bravura performance as Olivia's Grand-dad, the aforementioned Evil Edmonds, an older, crustier, not-so-successful version of Kerr and you have the basic family. Add a great supporting cast of characters, a great screenplay that shows the humanity OF those characters and great singing from Church and what more do you need? Ferguson's Kerr, as the little boy who never had to grow up, stepping up as both a father and, ultimately, lover is dead on. Redgrave's Rebecca strikes the perfect tone showing her bitterness and anger towards Kerr as well as her vulnerability and love for her daughter. Church is a natural as Olivia, who loves her mother dearly but has music in her bones, a fact seen by Kerr, Evil Edmonds and, ultimately, by Rebecca herself.So it ain't War and Peace. It's merely an excellent family movie which places it head and shoulders above the usual pedestrian family fare. THAT credit goes to writer/director Craig Ferguson. Bravissimo Craig. See this movie. You'll laugh, you'll cry. you'll sing along. If it can warm the heart of a jaded soul like me, then it ought to warm yours as well.

I was mesmerized by the music at the beginning of this film. Young Charlotte Church is an Angel from Heaven! I sort music into two categories, forgettable (most), and unforgettable (rare). The voices of Celine Dion, Barbara Streisand, and Charlotte Church should be heard 500 years from now! Truly, Charlotte's singing in the beginning of this movie remains with me in my dreams, and is one of the very most unforgettable moments in music history! Another surprise is Craig Ferguson. Previously, I knew of him only from late night television. There was a competition to take over the Late Late Show, and many actors and comedians competed for the honor of hosting this show. Craig was the funniest and most natural of all the candidates, and I was cheering for him. He was selected, and I try to stay up late just to see him. When I saw this movie title, with Craig's name and photo, I rented it. I did not expect much. His performance, and then, yes, his direction, made me a Craig Ferguson movie fan! Hurray for both Charlotte and Craig in this very entertaining and heartwarming film!

A better than expected "star" vehicle for Charlotte Church's film debut. She inevitably gets some criticism for just being herself in normal life but in this film she is at least as good as most 16 year old actresses with possibly rather more training would be albeit it's true that to some extent she is playing herself. I've always thought Jemma Redgrave to be a wooden actress but she isn't too bad here and does a good job of looking extremely proud of her daughter by the end. The flashback when she plays herself at 18 stretches the imagination though.Joss Ackland is quite effective as the old rocker of a grandfather. He seems to be having a ball singing with the rock band and it is his own voice. I just about remembered he has sung in the past and played Juan Peron on the original album of Evita.Craig Ferguson is in mixed form as the rock star. Early on he is a caricature and doesn't act very well in the attempt but as the character calms down he gives a better performance.Overall a good family film - A predictable ending (It was obvious what Charlotte's closing song in the film would be from very early on - Anbd the title gave another clue) but none the worse for that.

"I'll Be There" has a cute but implausible plot, mediocre acting, and terrible sound quality, which would not be completely horrible in an ordinary movie, but in a movie that's entire purpose is to allow the lead actress to show off her voice, it's a disaster. The plot is quite obviously put together merely so that Charlotte Church can sing, but the poor recording quality of the movie does not even let the plot follow through with its motive. Charlotte Church's beautiful, first class voice is completely butchered. The movie would be worthwhile just to here her sing if someone on the crew had managed to obtain decent recording equipment. As this is not the case, it is a bit of a waste of time. The plot is cute enough that it can keep the attention of the viewer, and Charlotte Church plays her part fairly well. She has a very pretty face that lights up at the right moments and aids the movie considerably. Otherwise, the acting is mediocre, and the movie is not worth wasting money on.