Why Paul Potts was tormented by virtually everyone for his passion for opera singing, when male choirs are as Welsh as rugby, red dragons and leeks, is a mystery, but what is triumph without adversity and the latter is present in spades in the British comedy drama One Chance.
Cambodian dictator jokes aside, Potts was the humble, painfully shy cellphone salesman from Port Talbot who shuffled on to the stage for a Britain's Got Talent audition in 2007 ''to sing opera''.
Potts unleashed an astonishing rendition of Puccini's Nessun dorma, brought the house down and turned the bemusement on the faces of judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan into shock and awe.
The clip on YouTube has been watched more than 117 million times.
The ''voice of the valleys'' went on to win the first series of the talent contest, sang for the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance, quit his day job and launched his multi-platinum selling and international touring professional singing career.
However, One Chance wisely keeps the audition for its climax and selectively delves into Potts' early life, which was, as James Corden's voice-over says, ''a seemingly endless drama full of singing and violence, kind of like an opera''.
Baby-faced comedian Corden acquits himself well enough as Potts as he runs from confidence-destroying bullies, clashes with his dad (the ever-excellent Colm Meaney), who wants him to take a ''real job'' at the steelworks, is indulged by his supportive mum (Julie Walters) and works with his boozy Dungeons & Dragons-loving boss (Mackenzie Crook, in comedy sidekick mode).
It is his turbulent courtship of checkout operator Julie-Ann (Alexandra Roach) though, who he first meets in an online chatroom, which charms and keeps the story rooted in reality.
Romance blossoms by the flashing lights of the pub quiz machine and unpaid bills prompt Potts to enter Britain's Got Talent for its $100,000 prize.
One Chance liberally edits Potts' true story to hit familiar rags-to-riches notes and pluck heartstrings while keeping the drama as light as an aria. It is a harmless confection.
What rankles is the suggestion in the film, co-produced by Simon Cowell, Potts would have languished in obscurity had it not been for Britain's Got Talent.
One Chance (PG)
Starring: James Corden (Gavin & Stacey), Mackenzie Crook (Game of Thrones), Alexandra Roach (The Iron Lady).
Director: David Frankel (Hope Springs, The Devil Wears Prada).
Screening: Reading Cinemas Queenstown.
2 stars (out of 5)
