SONGS FOR AMY – SLIFF Review

At one time or another we’ve all pined for the one that got away. The person that could’ve been the one, but somehow you wrecked it. So now you send most of your nights hoping a second chance. The hero of this quirky Irish comedy has a plan. Sean assembles his band mates into a recording studio to make an album of songs, not to send to an agent or a record label. This is just for Amy, Sean’s greatest love. But things become even more complicated when he inherits a swanky castle/hotel that caters to wedding events. The big gig coming up is the wedding of preening pop star JJ Fitzgerald and…you know who. Combining elements of ONCE and THE COMMITMENTS, SONGS FOR AMY balances the outrageous antics of Sean’s struggling bar band (the bassist thinks he’s a male model, the keyboardist is a “herbal expert”, and the veteran drummer has a thing for zaftig “gypsy” gals), and struggle to reunite with the still hurting Amy. Look for Patrick Birgin (SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY) as an old-time rocker that gives Sean a few words of wisdom. There are lots of laughs (especially at the clueless JJ), tears,rockstar-level partying, romance, and great tunes

SONGS FOR AMY screens as part of the 21st Annual Whitaker Saint Louis International Film Festival at the Plaza Frontenac Cinemas on Friday, November 9 at 6:30 PM and Saturday, November 10 at 4 PM