I was surprised when I found out that Flower wasn't a Sundance movie. It sure looks like one. Coming of age story. Troubled family life. Up and coming star. Featuring a bunch of comedy people in dramatic roles. It checks all the boxes. Maybe I can call it an honorary Sundance movie.
I had no trouble
watching Flower. Zoey Deutch is an appealing screen presence. This plays right
into her specialty: playing a young person who acts older than her character is. If she was 7-8 years
younger, she and Ellen Page would be fighting for the same roles. Parks and Rec
has really confused how I look at Adam Scott. Before that show, he was best
known for being sarcastic and kind of a dick, even when he was meant to be
likable. He was so memorable as Ben Wyatt in Parks and Rec though, that I
default to thinking of him as that guy. He uses it well in Flower. Because, I
should be very suspicious of his character, but I immediately wanted to believe
him. I shouldn't be surprised anymore when Kathryn Hahn is good in a role even
when she isn't playing for laughs. Dylan Gelula is putting together a
fascinating resume of bit parts. If she ever has a breakout role, it's going to
be fun seeing how people slowly realize all the things they've seen her in.
This cast made the movie so easy to watch.
The story is a
mess though. The focus is scattered, and the edgy parts most were just icky.
Deutch is playing some kind of Manic Pixie Damaged Girl. She just didn't feel
real. I mean, the blowjob queen who blows and bribes cops for the greater good. Really? The
movie takes it about one step too far. The idea that she falls for her
stepbrother comes out of nowhere too. She spends most of the movie pitying him.
He's really a drip the whole time. The stuff with Adam Scott got cut way too
short. I get that the abruptness was kind of the point, but it really felt like
it was being inserted into the movie without enough time set aside for
it. It's a whole movie of ill-fitting pieces.
Verdict (?): Weakly Don't Recommend
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