Today’s quick review: Lady Bird. Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan), a free-spirited high school senior living in Sacramento, dreams of going to college on the East Coast. Only three things stand in her way: poor grades, the cost of tuition, and her overbearing mother (Laurie Metcalf). With one year to get her life on track, Lady Bird attempts to navigate the rocky waters of high school long enough to taste freedom on the other side.
Lady Bird is a coming-of-age comedy about an offbeat girl struggling to find herself. The movie paints a nuanced picture of being a teenager, from Lady Bird’s love-hate relationship with her family to the petty drama of high school. The film’s astute observations about life give it an uncommon amount of credibility. At the same time, snappy dialogue, brisk pacing, and a firm sense of irony help to keep the tone light.
One of Lady Bird’s greatest strengths is its characters. Lady Bird herself makes for a subtle protagonist, torn between her dreams and her reality. She rebels at Catholic school, seeks romance, looks for a job, and tries to finagle her way into college, all with the ambivalence that comes with adolescence. But the heart of the movie is her tumultuous relationship with her mother, a willful woman struggling to provide for her family.
The supporting cast is just as carefully sketched. Although Lady Bird remains the focus throughout the story, her friends and family are clearly going through their own struggles. None of the characters are one-dimensional, and the myriad ways they interact contribute to the movie’s rich tapestry. The plot is episodic, a highlight reel of Lady Bird’s senior year, but its fast pace, colorful scenes, and recurring themes help it feel cohesive nonetheless.
Give Lady Bird a shot when you’re in the mood for a grounded comedy with strong characters and a fair amount of humor. How much you enjoy the film will depend on how much the main character resonates with you, so steer clear if the struggles of a misfit teenager don’t appeal. For a more stylized look at high school, check out Rushmore. For a more uplifting and child-friendly coming-of-age story, cehck out Whisper of the Heart.
7.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for rich characters and insightful writing; your score will vary.