Cert 12A
90 mins
BBFC advice: strong language, drug misuse, moderate nudity
There was a time when I had a soft spot for the Eurovision Song Contest.
In my eyes, the 1970s and 80s were when it was at its pomp - probably because those were the last decades before the voting became so obviously political.
In recent years, the United Kingdom has become the bete noir of Europe and so other countries' juries tend to snub us (mind you, it doesn't help that our entries are so lame).
Back in the day, Israel was one of the most successful nations, boasting victories with Izar Cohen and the Alphabeta, Milk And Honey and, much later, Dana International.
So, no surprise, that this movie - the only one I have seen surrounding Eurovision - should come from that country.
Cupcakes is ridiculously cheesy but in being so it sums up the kitsch of Eurovision.
It surrounds a group of Tel Aviv neighbours who gather together to watch what the film calls Eurosong (presumably because its makers could not get permission to use Eurovision).
Anyway, one of the group (Anat Waxman) is feeling blue after her husband has jetted to Thailand to see out his midlife crisis.
Thus, her friends spontaneously make up a song to cheer her up, record it on an iphone and, guess what?, it is sent away to the Eurovision selection panel.
Cupcakes overflows with stereotypes. There is the gay best friend (Ofer Schechter), the plain Jane with the glasses who is not really so plain (Keren Berger), the avaricious music producers, the ambitious dad, the resentful daughter, the pompous politician, etc etc etc
It is so overflowing with froth I was in danger of choking on it.
But Eurovision fans are clearly capable of subduing their natural boundaries of taste for one night a year, so they might be happy to do so for 90 minutes and enjoy Eytan's Fox's movie.
It was rather too twee for me.
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: a bare bum
Overall rating: 4.5/10