‘His name became a rhyming slang…‘
Now, I already knew that I was a fan of James Blunt before watching this excellent documentary. While his music was derided at the time, sad-sack, white-guy-with-an acoustic-guitar-music is one of my favourite genres (I have an entire Spotify playlist devoted to the subgenre simply entitled ‘Dark Times’), and it is well known that Blunt is a wonderful presence on Twitter. The point being, even if you don’t learn anything new from One Brit Wonder, it’s worth it for the journey…
Charting the rise and fall of James Blunt from privately educated soldier to chart sensation to media pariah, One Brit Wonder is not just an opportunity for Blunt to demonstrate how likeable and funny he is (although it is that), it is also a comment on the peculiar British past time of hating anyone who becomes successful – particularly if that person happens to come from the upper classes. It’s something that I myself have been guilty of and no doubt will be guilty of again.
Ostensibly a tour diary of Blunt’s much-delayed 2022 world tour, Chris Atkins’ film works best when harking back to the unstoppable success of Blunt’s 2004 monster hit ‘You’re Beautiful’ and the subsequent backlash that accompanied it. Looking back, and I know Blunt is rich and privileged and all the rest of it, but much of the criticism was ridiculously harsh and some of it a little pathetic (Damon Albarn refusing to have his photo taken with Blunt at an award ceremony is particularly childish).
I think perhaps the most impressive thing about One Brit Wonder is that it has changed the public perception of Blunt for those who have seen it and has helped to rehabilitate the singer-songwriter in eyes of the public. It’s also funny, warm and with that sweet hit of 00s nostalgia thrown in for good measure. Honestly, it’s worth watching just to spend time with Blunt’s hilariously posh but wonderfully fun parents. Good times.
