Bill Murray plays a cantankerous old man named Vincent that forms an endearing friendship with his new preteen neighbor Oliver (played by Jaeden Lieberher). Vincent is a chain-smoking, alcoholic Vietnam veteran that gambles at the racetrack, frequently is delinquent financially, and who also enjoys the company of a pregnant Russian prostitute/stripper named Daka (played by Naomi Watts). When Oliver's mother, Maggie (Melissa McCarthy), is forced to work late hours to make ends meet, Vincent offers to babysit Oliver for a modest fee (in order to pay his various debts).
During their time spent together, Vincent attempts to teach the mild-mannered and polite Oliver a thing or two about the real world while Oliver, through his childhood innocence, starts to break down some of the crotchetiness of Vincent. It's a shaky relationship developed by the same plot devices you've probably seen dozens of times yet can justify because 'hey, it's a feel-good movie'.
St. Vincent is directed by Theodore Melfi, though that doesn't really mean much to anyone since this is Melfi's directorial debut. That being said, he does an adequate job with a rehashed story and some pretty strong actors. Bill Murray obviously steals the show and further demonstrates his incredible range of acting, but not without a few supporting one-liners from McCarthy and Watts. Chris O'Dowd also delivers a good supporting role as Brother Geraghty complete with a bit of Catholic humor for the audience. Perhaps the most surprising addition however, was with Mr. Lieberher as Oliver. The young actor delivers a fine performance and demonstrates real chemistry with Murray on screen.
Upon analysis, I wish that Murray and Lieberher had a bit more screen time together, since it probably would have strengthened the story more, but overall it was an adequate movie. It had a few good laughs and the level of performances I would have expected for something in the feel-good genre. It's nothing to write home about though.
It was a fun little film that got the audience laughing from time to time and occasionally would pull on the their heartstrings. All the actors are spot on in their comedic timing, but I wouldn't describe St. Vincent as 'laugh out loud funny' or anything like that. It will bring a smile to your face and you'll probably get annoyed with Naomi Watts Russian accent real quick.
Read the full review on the DriveInZeppelin website
During their time spent together, Vincent attempts to teach the mild-mannered and polite Oliver a thing or two about the real world while Oliver, through his childhood innocence, starts to break down some of the crotchetiness of Vincent. It's a shaky relationship developed by the same plot devices you've probably seen dozens of times yet can justify because 'hey, it's a feel-good movie'.
St. Vincent is directed by Theodore Melfi, though that doesn't really mean much to anyone since this is Melfi's directorial debut. That being said, he does an adequate job with a rehashed story and some pretty strong actors. Bill Murray obviously steals the show and further demonstrates his incredible range of acting, but not without a few supporting one-liners from McCarthy and Watts. Chris O'Dowd also delivers a good supporting role as Brother Geraghty complete with a bit of Catholic humor for the audience. Perhaps the most surprising addition however, was with Mr. Lieberher as Oliver. The young actor delivers a fine performance and demonstrates real chemistry with Murray on screen.
Upon analysis, I wish that Murray and Lieberher had a bit more screen time together, since it probably would have strengthened the story more, but overall it was an adequate movie. It had a few good laughs and the level of performances I would have expected for something in the feel-good genre. It's nothing to write home about though.
It was a fun little film that got the audience laughing from time to time and occasionally would pull on the their heartstrings. All the actors are spot on in their comedic timing, but I wouldn't describe St. Vincent as 'laugh out loud funny' or anything like that. It will bring a smile to your face and you'll probably get annoyed with Naomi Watts Russian accent real quick.
Read the full review on the DriveInZeppelin website