Director Greta Gerwig
Genre Comedy
Cast Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges
Rating R
Release Date November 3rd, 2017 (Limited)
“The adventures of a young woman living in Northern California for a year.”
Lady Bird is a coming-of-age comedy drama from actress turned director Greta Gerwig. Gerwig, who is a recognizable actress especially for fans of indie films (try not to hold Weiner Dog against her), and although she did co-direct the 2008 romance drama Nights and Weekends, Lady Bird is her solo debut. Gerwig first met lead actress Saoirse Ronan at the Toronto Film Festival in 2015 where they went over the script for the film in Ronan's hotel room and immediately connected. Gerwig was attending the festival for her film Maggie's Plan and Ronan was in attendance for her award winning romantic drama Brooklyn. The cast for Lady Bird includes Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, and Beanie Feldstein.
A well-rounded and very entertaining coming-of-age drama with a fantastic cast, Lady Bird paves the way for what should be a long and promising career for first-time director Greta Gerwig. As a huge fan of actress Saoirse Ronan, I was really looking forward to seeing this movie and I definitely had high expectations. Well, it did not disappoint! I am a sucker for coming-of-age dramas as long as the cast and script come together, and this film definitely had all of that in place. The blend of drama and humor will undoubtedly allow the film to reach a broad audience. Lady Bird dives right into the relationship between Christine and her mother Marion, which is the primary focus of the story. Christine's father Larry has assumed the full-time job of mediator between mother and daughter. What director Greta Gerwig has created for viewers is an up close and personal look at real-life family dynamics in action, more specifically the struggle that ensues when a college-bound teenager prepares to leave the nest.
One of the things I appreciated the most about this film is how authentic it felt. Relationships within any family can be messy and Lady Bird gives viewers a glimpse of the highest highs and the lowest lows, but it never strays from reality. Various aspects of Lady Bird actually hit home with me as well, and I feel like it is all too common that parents do what they can to shield their children from the harsh truth of real-life struggles. When I step back and really think about it, Lady Bird touches on pretty much every sensitive subject that has plagued society in the past decade seamlessly which is extremely difficult to do. Filmmakers today tend to avoid "toeing the line" due to fear of backlash but Gerwig seems determined to make her mark as Hollywood's next influential director. Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson reminds us that it is okay to be different, and more importantly it is okay to step outside your comfort zone because that is what makes life worth living.
The cast assembled for Lady Bird is absolutely fantastic from top to bottom. I am a huge fan of Irish actress Saoirse Ronan, and I feel like her talents are drastically underappreciated. Ronan has built herself a very solid acting career, most notably her Oscar nominated performance in Brooklyn, but even her lesser known performances in films like The Lovely Bones, Hannah, or The Grand Budapest Hotel. Ronan is quickly becoming one of the better actresses in Hollywood. In Lady Bird she yet again proves she is more than capable of taking on the lead role and capturing the emotions of the audience. Her character, Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson, is simply trying to find her rightful place in the world and Ronan delivers on that perfectly. Laurie Metcalf plays the role of Christine's loving yet overbearing mother, and she is fantastic. Metcalf develops a unique chemistry with Ronan that feels genuine and it is a real pleasure watching their relationship grow. Tracy Letts plays the role of Christine's father who is very much the submissive husband alongside Metcalf. Personally, I loved his character and felt like he balanced out the dynamic of the cast. Manchester by the Sea star Lucas Hedges makes his presence known yet again and is excellent as Christine's friend/romantic interest Danny. The rest of the supporting cast was great.
Lady Bird serves as sort of a look back on the world in the past few decades, with the characters constantly bashing pop culture and going out of their way to be "different". In many ways, the main protagonist reminded me of my little sister in High School, determined to mock stereotypes and forge a unique path. This may not be the path of least resistance but it sure makes for some quality entertainment. More than anything else, Lady Bird is a reminder that just because Society has a strong influence on our lives we can still choose our own path. Director Greta Gerwig is a unique talent in the director's chair and I am looking forward to watching her career grow. If you are like me and have a soft spot for coming-of-age films or just appreciate quality filmmaking in general, be sure to find time to see Lady Bird during its short run in theaters.
