Michael Connolly (Steven Robertson) suffers from cerebral palsy. He lives quietly in an assisted living home. His speech is mumbled by his handicap. One day, rebellious Rory O'Shea (James McAvoy) arrives. He suffers from muscular dystrophy and he seems to be only one who actually understands Michael. The two begin a friendship. They party and meet Siobhan (Romola Garai). Rory struggles against a panel to receive his Independent Living Allowance. Despite personal issues, Michael asks for money from his father. They hire Siobhan to be their caretaker.I love the friendship between Michael and Rory. There is a problem with Michael. He's perfectly fine but his mumble does slow down the interactions sometimes. It would have also been great to have a disabled actor play Michael. It's an added bonus that would make this stand out. Romola Garai is enchanting. The movie needs more of her and give her character more story. This is a good movie and it could be even better.

INSIDE I'M DANCING is the story of two disabled friends and their quest to escape from the miserable care home in which they reside to set up home on their own right. As a piece of poignant and heartwarming filmmaking, this is near perfect, and it also gives the viewer a real picture of what it is to be disabled in the modern world: the frustrations and the problems, but also the joy, laughter and happiness.James McAvoy and Romola Garai have since gone on to bigger things, but the real star of this film is Steven Robertson, giving an outstandingly sympathetic portrayal of a man with cerebral palsy. Astonishing that Robertson wasn't nominated for a single award for what is possibly one of the greatest and most convincing performances in film history.

"Rory O'Shea Was Here" is a film about living life the way you want to not the way you have to. Although, that's not easy for Rory O'Shea (James McAvoy) who has Muscular Dystrophy, it's especially not easy for Michael (Steven Robertson) who has Cerebral Palsy. It's also not easy for a film to depict that with heartfelt meaning and no melodrama. That is assuredly accomplished here by making it a character-driven comedy.James McAvoy is probably best known for his looks and then followed by his dramatic turns in "The Last King of Scotland" (2006) and Atonement (2007), but I first met him in this character-rich comedic role. McAvoy and Robertson both portrayed their disabilities perfectly but that almost seems to be besides the point when they are able to use comedy to make us care about them.Rory's the rebel with his blonde, spiked hair and his unrelenting determination to always break the rules. Michael is the speech-impaired, lost soul who only does what the nurses at the home tell him to do—and even then, he's usually not physically able. From there it's a comedy of camaraderie when Rory can understand what Michael says and Michael has immediately found his new best friend. Good-natured trouble ensues.Together, Rory and Michael want to live independently without any rules. The film takes some dramatic turns as they discover that there are always rules—and girls. How comes girls and rules always seem to come hand-in-hand? The transitions between comedy and drama are barely even noticeable because of the chemistry that McAvoy and Robertson have and their effortless ease in making us care about Rory and Michael so deeply.

James McAvoy and Steven Robertson are incredible as the leads, Rory and Michael, who form an unlikely friendship in the home to which they are assigned. Rory can understand Michael's speaking when no one else can.These are severely handicapped men, confined to wheelchairs and limited mobility.The story of their leaving the home and establishing an assisted independent living environment for themselves is the plot of the movie.Many, many subtle comedic bits, such as a road race with children. Many emotional moments - one of them falls in love and is spurned, gently but firmly. One heartbreaking scene of a father repelled by his own son and rejecting him.The role of the home's manager, Eileen, played by Brenda Fricker is too one-dimensional to give the character any depth. I hate these one-note bad guys so beloved of Hollow-wood.But hats off to all concerned for making a movie about a very difficult subject matter and enlightening so many along the way as to the real challenges of the severely disabled.8 out of 10.