It's funny, I was just talking about the common white people movie in my review for This Is Where I Leave You and how it's been kinda done to death and there's a million of these movies out why do we need more? Okay, I still feel this way, but I'm willing to accept them if they're done well. There's something about a coming-of-age movie that really just warms the cockles of your heart, right? One of my favorite movies of all last year was The Way, Way Back. Yeah, it was about a white kid who is looked after by an older white guy teaching him how to be a man because of all the white problems he has at home. But, I loved it. St. Vincent is no different. It's The Karate Kid, it's About A Boy, it's a thousand other movies dealing with kids who have unusual mentors that teach them the way of the world. They're all decent white films. And so is St. Vincent.
Newcomer writer/director Theodore Melfi tells the story of Oliver (also newcomer Jaeden Lieberher) and his mother Maggie (Melissa McCarthy) moving to a new town escaping from her ex in order to start a new life for the two of them. Maggie, unfortunately, is the sole breadwinner of the house and works long hours at a hospital. Due to some bullying at the school, Oliver's keys and phone are stolen from him and he is left with no option than to seek help from his crotchety drunk neighbor Vinny (Bill Fuckin' Murray). Vin is the focus of the film and generally wants nothing to do with anyone, much less a child. However, due to his serious lack of funds, he sees a monetary opportunity with watching the child and making money for his time. He's not a very sympathetic character, but he's not without his charm. Like all the other white movies, he winds up bonding with the child and teaching him how to be a man. Also like all the other white movies, Oliver ends up teaching Vinny a thing or two about himself as well. It's a story that's been told several times before, but as long as it's told well, it's not a story we mind watching again and again.
It's honestly just the Bill Murray show for most of the movie, but everyone else pulls their own weight. It's refreshing to see Bill Murray come out from whatever hiding place he's been in and let loose with a character as crotchety and hilarious as Vin. The kid, though, is so cute. He's like a human puppy you want to watch succeed. He's not written like most of the "weirdo" kids of this genre. He's actually a very normal, incredibly polite child. He's not socially awkward. He's not a super geek. He's just unfortunately too scrawny for his age and that, also unfortunately, is all kids need today in order to make someone's life hell. Murray is the perfect person to teach this kid how to stand up for himself. And the kid, for this being his first movie, does a fine job as well. McCarthy isn't anything spectacular here because the role isn't that complicated, but she's able to, at least very briefly, showcase her acting range a little bit. She didn't fall down once during the movie and that was nice. Chris O'Dowd who plays Oliver's priest/teacher is FANTASTIC and clever and witty and... sadly, only in the movie for a few minutes. He could give Murray a run for his money. All of the characters are great except for Naomi Watts' character of a Russian prostitute that Vinny sorta hangs out with and kinda loves. It was almost an unnecessary character and definitely an unnecessary accent. There was really no reason to make her Russian. It didn't detract from the movie, but it was a bit of a distraction.
It's nothing that needs to be seen immediately, but I'd recommend shoving St. Vincent into some sort of movie queue in the near future. While it won't change your life or win any awards, it is something most decent human beings will enjoy.
B+
No comments:
Post a Comment