Merit is a vet who is having trouble. Her life has gone into the toilet. She is in trouble with authorities and has to go therapy. Her trouble is her dead friend Zoe won't leave her. Things become even more complicated when her grandfather begins to need help.
While this film is funny, the film is actually a deadly serious look at the experience of veterans returning from war. Yes it's funny the way that Zoe comments on everything, but there is something heavier going on. The why of Zoe is crushing when we find out. The other threads of such ass survivors guilt, and the macho military attitude are beautifully laid out.
The cast is great. Sonequa Martin-Green is awards worthy as Merit. Natalie Morales is wonderful as Zoe. The big names of Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris are perfect in their smaller roles. They add a gravitas to the whole film.
To be honest if it wasn't for one thing, this film would be in the running for my best of the year list. The problem is that as good as everything is, writer director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes doesn't blend things as well as he should have. The funny Zoe bits work against the serious Merit bits. The two parts are great on their own but for a lot of the film they don't work together. The reason is that they are treated almost as separate films with some of how Zoe acts/reacts being too much as if she were alive.
That said the film still works, and is still great. I highly recommend it.
No comments:
Post a Comment