Annie
Directed by Will Gluck
- comedy
- drama
- family
The story
Annie is a young, happy foster kid who's also tough enough to make her way on the streets of New York in 2014. Originally left by her parents as a baby with the promise that they'd be back for her someday, it's been a hard knock life ever since with her mean foster mom Miss Hannigan. But everything's about to change when the hard-nosed tycoon and New York mayoral candidate Will Stacks—advised by his brilliant VP and his shrewd and scheming campaign advisor—makes a thinly-veiled campaign move and takes her in. Stacks believes he's her guardian angel, but Annie's self-assured nature and bright, sun-will-come-out-tomorrow outlook on life just might mean it's the other way around.
What it’s like
Warm, bright and bustling, with sunlit New York streets, glossy penthouse interiors and a steady stream of pop-musical energy. The palette leans on saturated reds and yellows against cool city greys, shot in a clean, polished digital style with plenty of handheld street-level movement and wide establishing shots of skyline and traffic. Its sound is built on bouncy show tunes, upbeat pop covers and a lot of choreographed street and office numbers, so it plays like a busy, colourful confection rather than a quiet film. Vibe: buoyant, sentimental, brisk. It suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a family movie night, or a light comfort watch when you want something cheerful. The pacing is quick and the emotional register is hopeful, with a lonely powerful man slowly softened by a determinedly optimistic girl. Some scenes carry real threat: a harsh foster home, a neglectful adult, and moments of peril in the city, with brief rough handling and tense chases, but no gore and little real violence. Made for families, fans of the musical, and anyone who wants uplift with a sharp, funny edge.
More films like Annie
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Annie and we’ll explain which ones fit you.
