This is your typical age-old tale of a girl running from a gang of homicidal priests because her ex-boyfriend stole their drugs. What? That doesn’t sound familiar? Must just be me.
Pixie takes the audience on a breakneck adventure around the west of Ireland, as two best friends (played by Bohemian Rhapsody star Ben Hardy and newcomer Daryl McCormack) get acquainted with Olivia Cooke’s Pixie very quickly when they stumble on a bag of drugs stolen from the local drug lord priests.
Oliva Cooke plays Pixie alongside Ben Hardy (left) and Daryl McCormick (right)
Olivia Cooke truly shines on screen as Pixie; the film drips with her charm, making it completely believable that every character seems to either fall love with her or want to be her. There is no question that this is her movie, no one can compete, and that’s a tall order when surrounded by comedy juggernauts Colm Meaney, Dylan Moran, and Alec Baldwin.
It may have some clear feminist undertones, with Pixie basically dominating every male in her life, but I would have loved to see more female characters within the narrative. Aside from an underused younger sister (Olivia Byrne) and some background nuns with semi-automatics, there isn’t a lot to say about female representation. That being said, it was a change to see one-dimensional male characters rather than the other way around. Take that information and do with it what you will.
Despite this severely lacking in Irish talent, there is a clear awareness of Irish wit that makes me miss home more than Tayto crisp sandwiches. Not a lot of people know this but to apply for an Irish passport sarcasm must take up 50% of things that come out of your mouth, to be honest I think Pixie would qualify. Still, I do not think I will ever recover after hearing Alec Baldwin trying to get a grip on the Irish brogue.
Pixie doesn’t need any back-up
What I would say is that at times the pace of the film couldn’t quite catch up with the subject matter. I wanted the editing to almost give me whiplash as our protagonists dodged bullets and tried to avoid digging their own graves. Sadly though, there were moments that felt more akin to a school trip rather than a weekend bender filled with MDMA and tequila it was meant to be. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the sentimental side to Pixie, which actually shocked me with its heart and gave the character more depth.
There is nothing cheesy about this kind of comedy and I love it. The dialogue is so real that I can imagine throwing some of the gags in my friends’ direction from time to time. Let’s be honest, most of us are frankly ridiculous individuals. That is what Pixie has captured.
If you’re still debating whether or not to watch this film, I’ll leave you with this: in the moments when I wasn’t laughing watching the madness unfold on screen, I was smiling. If you’re after pure unadulterated escapism, why not check out this genuinely sweet film with a lot to like – you just have to get past the blood, violence and dodgy accents first.
Featured Image Credit: Paramount Pictures
Film and Tv Editor at Brig Newspaper. Currently studying Journalism and English at the University of Stirling
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