"Shirley Valentine" proves to be a very enjoyable movie, featuring characters who are complex and memorable. It works well in transitioning from its smaller stage origins into a full-fledged film experience. The story touches on similar ideas as “Educating Rita” (1983), and it’s just as effective revisiting those concepts. Both Rita and Shirley make for compelling figures; one is facing the possibility of being held …

Pauline Collins delivers a remarkable performance in this adaptation of Willy Russell’s play, portraying a restless housewife who often finds herself at home drinking wine and speaking aloud while awaiting her husband's (Bernard Hill) arrival for dinner precisely at 6:00 pm. When her friend, "Jane" (Alison Steadman), wins a two-week vacation to Mykonos, she asks "Shirley" to join her. After some hesitation, Shirley a…