Sunny Dancer review

 

A celebration of youth couldn't be more accurate of what Sunny Dancer represents as it showcases the true power and strength of youth, their friendships and the many highs and lows of life. Sunny Dancer follows a 17 year old named Ivy a cancer survivor whose parents sign her up for a 4 week summer camp deemed as Ivy calls it a ''chemo camp'' upon her arrival she struggles to fit in but as time passes and she begins to make friends she has a summer that she will never forget including love, romance, friendship and everything else in between. 

Bella Ramsey is brilliant here as young Ivy a witty, strong willed young woman who comes across as somewhat shy at first but once she opens up at the camp she becomes herself more and more leading to many amazing summer days and nights with her new group of friends who like her are all either cancer survivors or cancer patients themselves. Her performance is effortless in a movie that is absolutely gut wrenchingly beautiful. Also along for the ride are Neil Patrick Harris who plays the camp instrucor in a performance that is sublime it's so nuanced and deep leading to many scenes where I did tear up just a little bit. 

Sunny Dance is a great movie it really is with a profound message. Performance wise it's fantastic and overall the conveying undertones of people are what make everything okay really leaves you with a special feeling once the credits begin to roll. A brilliant uplifting movie that at times does tug at the heart strings in so many ways including an ending that is soul crushing but it does come around again ending on a really happy moment indeed. Sweet and moving Sunny Dancer is pure sunshine.

★★★★