John Carney, as everyone remembers, is the man behind the very well received and much loved Once and he graces our screen again with this soul stirring musical romantic comedy. Begin Again is a love letter to New York in the summer, written with lyrics to the tune of musicians struggling in the current homogenised state of the music industry.

Here Greta (Knightley) finds herself alone, having been dumped by her long-time college sweetheart and fellow songwriting enthusiast who has succumbed to his new found fame and the trappings of stardom after signing a major record label deal.

Enter (or rather, stumble in) disgraced record label exec Dan (Ruffalo) into the very bar where our songbird heroine is pouring her lovelorn heart into song form and, pulled out of his mid-life crisis by her sincerity and sweetness, together they set off to enchant the audience with their musical and emotional collaboration.

There are times when all you really need is a simple story told with sensitivity, warmth and humour and just like its predecessor Once, Begin Again is a film which will win you over with its offbeat charm, quiet pleasures and big heart.