St. Vincent Movie Review (2014)
A heartwarming and funny film about a crotchety older man and the boy that he babysits, St. Vincent is odd and endearing in all the right ways.
St. Vincent is one of those films that I find myself going back to every couple of years. I love it and I would watch it more often, but spacing it out keeps the comedy fresh and my appreciation new. It also never fails to hit me right in the heart, even though I know it’s coming.
St. Vincent is about Vincent, a grouchy alcoholic with a gambling problem. His wife is in a nursing home, and, although he visits, he spends most of his time at the track or the bar, or with his pregnant stripper friend, Daka. When single mother, Maggie, and her son, Oliver, move in next door, Vincent becomes a reluctant babysitter for the 12 year old, and ultimately, a kind of mentor.
This movie is laugh-out-loud funny every time I watch it. It is extremely clever, and between Oliver’s quick wit and Vincent’s clever comebacks (and sometimes vice versa) the humor is constant.
Bill Murray shines as Vincent, and you wonder how much of the character is performance and how much is just Bill Murray being himself. Either way, it’s wonderful. Melissa McCarthy plays “the straight man” in this movie (as Maggie), which she excels at, as she is usually the comedic relief. Jaeden Martell’s Oliver is sweet and smart and the kind of kid you’d enjoy spending time with because he challenges you in the most straightforward of ways. And Naomi Watts’ Daka is a hilarious and brash flavor to add to the entire dynamic. There are even a few funny scenes with Chris O’dowd as Oliver’s Catholic school teacher.
While a lot of the movie is sarcastic and hilarious, there is a tone change in the second half. It is necessary for the story to continue, but you will notice it when it happens. Everything can’t stay as it was, life isn’t like that. But near the end of the film, you’ll feel it shift back again.
This is one of those films where the script and the actors are everything. The story is the film and there is nothing flashy to look at or experience. That said, you develop love for these characters and want them to be okay. And when the film reaches the climax, don’t be surprised if you find your cheeks a little damp. I cry every time.
St. Vincent is a touching movie that will both surprise you and make you happy. Who doesn’t need a film like that these days?
Runtime: 103 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: PG-13
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Yep, every time
My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Available: To rent on Prime Video or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
