The Lady In The Van Movie Review (2015)
A low-key film about a homeless woman who lives in a van in front of the same house for 15 years, The Lady In The Van is worth watching only for Maggie Smith.
There are some movies that you watch because your favorite actors are in them. I had never heard of this movie before, but as I was flipping through my streaming platforms looking for something to view, it popped up. A movie with Maggie Smith that I didn’t know about? I had to watch it.
The Lady In The Van is about writer Alan Bennett, a man who lives alone, doesn’t get overly involved in life, and is much more of an observer than anything else. At some point, a cantankerous older woman named Mary moves into the neighborhood and sleeps in a van on the street. She moves the van occasionally, one door at a time, eventually ending up in front of his house, where she stays for 15 years.
The Lady In The Van is based on a memoir of the same name by Alan Bennett. The film is inspired by his story, and it tells you that most of what you see is true. There are a few moments in the film when Alan actually says, “This didn’t happen,” which is amusing.
I am extremely torn about this film. I really wanted to like it. I LOVE Maggie Smith, and her performance here is right up there with her other amazing work, but the film itself is just okay.
Mary is a homeless woman who refuses most help, gets offended by anyone playing music, and spends her days hiding from most people. She is heavily religious, often praying in desperation and attending confession.
She makes wild declarations about having won awards for cleanliness (which strikes Alan as absurd) and others that seem verifiable. She is always dirty, with a strong odor, and uses the bathroom in bags in her van, but she can also speak fluent French. She is a mountain of curiosity for Alan, but he is never brave enough to break the barrier to ask questions.
There are two Alans in this film. One is the writer/observer, while the other participates in life. But in truth, neither really participates – one just interacts with people. They are often in the same room together, as Alan talks to himself regularly.
One great moment is at the very end, when you meet the real Alan Bennett and see the plaque on the street for Mary. It’s a really nice inclusion, and helps to break the barrier between fiction and reality.
There feels like untapped potential within this film, but maybe that is difficult when the narrative is mostly observational. I wanted to connect more with Mary’s homelessness, loneliness, pain, or any conflicts that Alan had, but I rarely found it. So again, it’s not bad, but it’s not worth watching unless you love Maggie Smith. She’s always a gem.
*Note – James Corden should not be on the cover of this film. He is in it for literally 4 seconds.
Runtime: 103 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: PG-13
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes, but only if you love Maggie Smith
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
Available: Free on Hulu and Disney+, to rent on Prime Video, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
