Grandma (2015)

Lack of good storyline.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

The movie is made so realistic it has a lot of that WoW feeling at the right moments and never tooo over the top. the suspense is done so well and the emotion is felt. Very well put together with the music and all.

This movie is about a teenager facing an unplanned pregnancy which leads her to go to her grandmother for help(due to the fear of the reaction her mother might give about the situation). The movie is divided into chapters, which in starting I didn't know. Lily Tomlin just did a great job acting as a grandmother with a difference. In all the movie just touches your heart and I hope more movies of the same kind come soon.

Writer-Director Paul Weitz' dramedy "Grandma" might not be a grand showstopper of a movie but it has a grand performance from veteran actress Lily Tomlin, and that was grandly suffice. Tomlin stars as Elle, an outspoken & tough-as-nails grandmother/mom who assists her granddaughter Sage in her mission to get funds for an abortion. It might sound like a very simplistic plot, but there were some dynamic family connections to it; especially when Sage's mom/Elle's daughter Judy comes into the picture. Weitz draws up "Grandma" as a mini-tour movie highlighting Elle and Sage, and it primarily focuses on how an vociferous and mean-spirited grandmother could still show her "heart of gold" to do whatever it takes to help her granddaughter. Sure, there is some formulaic family feud dynamics we have seen before, especially in the relationship between Elle and Judy; but it's not that huge of a flaw. Tomlin was grandly snubbed for a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her outstanding performance here as Elle. Although, Marcia Gay Harden as Judy and Julia Garner as Sage were performances that were not too grand. I did like though the supporting work of the vastly underrated Judy Greer as Elle's younger lover Olivia, and Sam Elliot as Elle's ex-boyfriend Karl. But it's Tomlin who was the most grandiose in "Grandma", and that enough is worth a grand look at this movie. **** Good

Lily Tomlin as an elderly, semi-retired poet and lesbian at the end of her rope: her latest girlfriend has left her, she's flat broke, she's not speaking to her daughter…and, her teenage granddaughter has just turned up on her doorstep needing $630 for an abortion. Small-scaled road-movie with chapter-stops for the various people in Tomlin's life who help her, want to help her, or shut the door on her. Tragic-comedy in the modern age, plain-spoken (with reams of foul language) and bursts of violent temperament (some of it verging, unsuccessfully, on parody). Writer-director Paul Weitz allows his star lots of room to emote, to sound off, to be belligerent and stubborn, and even occasionally be funny. The tone of the movie is hard to pin down, with situations that waver between the realistic and the absurd (sometimes in the same scene). While the film is exhausting, it is also rewarding, with a nicely screwy grandma-granddaughter bond between Tomlin and young Julia Garner. A visit to the house of former-flame Sam Elliott doesn't quite wash (and his scary demeanor introduces an ugly undercurrent to the movie); also, the events during the final jaunt are too broad, simply padding the running-time. The closing moments, however, are terrific, ending the story on a wistful, hopeful/not hopeful note that is entirely appropriate for the central character. **1/2 from ****

Now I get that this movie is not for everyone. It's very "talky" (the dialog though is really something to behold, unless you have issues with bad language) and it has very strong female roles/characters throughout. Male counterparts are very few and in between. Though still cast greatly as you can see in the cast list.And you need every piece to make this work. And work it does, when you hear Lily T. going off and see her flaws, but also her charm, it's pure joy to watch. Unless you do want your movies packed with action rather than words of course or where expecting this to be a horror movie (the title alone could suggest a lot of things, if you are not aware of the story). I'm almost surprised by the fact this has not a higher rating though ... and it's kind of a shame!