Kelly & Cal

This movie is like finding and enjoying a perfectly ripened piece of fruit, then taking a step forward, slipping on the peel, falling backwards and cracking your head on the pavement! Now what do I mean by that statement?

It's very simple to understand - the film starts with Kelly meeting Cal, both are highly spirited and living lives very out of place for their charged up personalities. Kelly is confined by her new role as a mother living in a very American suburban middle class neighborhood after her punk rocker all girl band background. Cal is young, handsome, and full of the capacity to experience the ecstasy of life, but he too is confined in life by his disability, wheelchair, and a bitter outlook toward his future. After they discover each other a glorious friendship develops with some of the finest dialog you can find in a movie. Kelly sees in Cal her youth which she obviously misses. Cal sees in Kelly everything he wants to experience in life but cannot or (more likely) is afraid to do because he fears failure more than his disability. Through Kelly, Cal breaks out of his shell and at the same time Kelly develops an empathy for Cal because he has projected his feelings toward her in sexual advances and his willingness to get back into his artistic abilities. Then reality strikes, and Kelly must step back from this complex and needy friendship. At this point the story starts to fall apart.

The movie turns into a ridiculous melodrama of Cal discarding everything Kelly helped him through both psychologically and physically. Kelly goes running after him as if she can save him from himself. Why the writer and director did this I do not understand because they took the relationship of a disabled youth and a frustrated older woman who both found an inner fulfillment in each other that could have been so compelling and bold this movie would have possibly been real box office material. Why not have the suburban housewife have an affair with a disabled youth? Could it possibly be that it was a 'too European' idea?

Either way I encourage watching this story because it is good and that good part makes the bad part not so bruising to watch.

I loved this film!! It's poignant, raw, and so engaging. Performances across the board completely believable, truthful & deep. I didn't want it to end. Juliette Lewis is always interesting and here she is phenomenal, with every moment full and electric. The rest of the cast is also great. Jonny Weston, Josh Hopkins and Cybill Shepherd. So much fun to watch their shades of gray. And beautifully shot to make us feel like we're inhabiting this world. Masterfully directed by Jen McGowan. A must see!

KELLY & CAL is the kind of movie that stays with you long after you've seen it. Perfect casting of Juliette Lewis who's real-life rock 'n roll youth only strengthens the very raw, honest, and real identity crisis that comes with first-time motherhood. Unfortunately, I have lived this moment in life myself and Juliette plays it with the same "what-the-hell-just-happened" look on her face that I must have had. But Jonny Weston's performance of Cal stole the movie for me. I felt as shocked and moved by his character as Juliette Lewis's Kelly. He was charismatic and heartbreaking. This movie is so smartly written by Amy Lowe Starbin. The characters so true to their place in life. For example, Cal's cynicism might seem older than his years at times, but his youthful judgment and actions remind us he is still a teenager. The movie as a whole is a near perfect synergy of writing, directing, acting, cinematography, editing, and sound design. The side characters have depth and range that defies their limited time on screen. And while it's been a festival favorite, it is not the type of indie movie that leaves you feeling uncomfortable or weirded out, or mentally exhausted. It's the type of movie I dream of, one that reflects real life and leaves me with a bit of hope.

"Kelly and Cal" is mature-exploration drama with satire comedy and forbidden-and-hidden romance. First question, is this family genre like being noted in many film website? Definitely, not! In first 15 minutes, this film has promising opening, In the middle, when relationship between the older woman (Kelly) and the younger man (Cal) starts weaving, please, It almost disgust me, but thank God, in last 30 minutes it turns out to be it should be. This film has a good and authentic message for you, a new-turned mother, to keep behave. And in this film, it's a real show. But it wouldn't be good if Juliette Lewis and Jonny Weston didn't do their best in this movie.

Kelly (Juliette Lewis) is a former musician turned suburban mom. She hasn't had sex with husband Josh (Josh Hopkins) for 6 months since the birth of their baby. She is uncertain about her new life and struggling as a new mom. She befriends wheelchair-bound flirtatious neighborhood teen Cal McCullen (Jonny Weston). She's hounded by her in-laws Bev (Cybill Shepherd) and Julie (Lucy Owen).

There are some funny moments like her friends with pictures of a dog. There are poignant moments. There are tough moments. There are awkward moments. It all adds up to an uneven movie. Juliette Lewis is terrific transitioning between the emotional turmoils. I wish this was something simply with Kelly & Cal starting a band. The filmmaker seems intent on going for a higher degree of difficulty and don't quite make it.