CUPCAKES (2013)

Six friends/neighbors in Tel Aviv - Ofer, a gay male who runs a daycare for kids, and his five best lady friends - get together every week to watch the UniverSong competitions on TV.  Bemoaning the lack of great tunes on the show (and to cheer up Anat, whose husband has just left her), the group comes up with an impromptu, upbeat song, which one of them records on her phone.  As a joke, Ofer sends the song into UniverSong, the group shocked beyond belief when it's chosen to represent Israel in the following year's competition!  Can they form a polished singing group, despite their jobs and the objections of family and friends, in time to ... maybe even win?  Cupcakes is so much fun, positive, life-affirming and colorful, full of characters that grow deeply on you and a life philosophy/theme running through the film it's too bad more people don't embrace.  A wonderful, funny film that will also tug at your heartstrings. (not rated)  A-

CUPCAKES trailer