Mum's Monday: shirley valentine

The theme song played over the opening credits ‘The girl who used to be me’ sung by Patti Austin, by Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman and Marvin Hamlisch is heart-warming to hear, you have to really listen to the words but the meaning is clearly there.

Shirley Valentine (Pauline Collins) has arrived home, I like and find it amusing that in the script she, what's known as, ‘Breaks the fourth wall’, in this case by talking to it, which is fun to hear.

I feel sorry for the enforced ‘Vegetarian dog’ I just knew Shirley would put it right, but sadly, now there is ‘No steak’ on the ‘Thursday tea/dinner’ menu.

Kids, hey, they have to fly the nest and make their own way in the world at sometime. They have to make their own choices and it is amusing to hear what Shirley thought of her son’s loosely called his new place he has found to live in.

Good for you Shirley Valentine you have to stand up for yourself sometimes. And now she is off to ‘Greece’. She is married yes, ‘Not joined at the hip.

Well the school reunion was an enormous shock, Marjorie (Joanna Lumley) is certainly ‘Top class’ and she does travel. So Shirley was partly right.

No, Joe (Bernard Hill) is not going to Greece. This part is not nice to watch but for the nature of this film it wouldn’t be right for Shirley to have the perfect marriage and life. Also it doesn’t go too far but far enough to set the continuing story up.

Yes, Shirley, go to Greece!! Go! Now I love the thought of ‘Rock’ talking Greek and only understanding the Greek language. Greece is great. Sadly, the Brits on holiday in the dining room want it to be more like ‘Spain’ and with ‘Chips’ on the menu. I like seeing Shirley know her stuff though and impart her knowledge. I also like seeing Shirley’s dream come true, well sadly, almost.

I am glad that Shirley is going out on the boat, and Dougie (George Costigan) and Jeanette (Anna Keaveney) have a new, I want to say ‘Playmate’ this is fun to watch this part unfold. It is nice to watch that Shirley has a great day out on the boat.

I like how this film shows a lot of aspects of the Greek way of life including a wedding. It really throws you into Greece in more ways than one.

I like that Joe has had a ‘Wake up call’  and now he is in Greece I also like that Shirley is nice enough to say that Joe ‘He needs a holiday’. I like how Joe and Shirley start to, I hope, reconnect.