Mamie

Grandma (2015)

*** (out of 4)

Elle Reid (Lily Tomlin) breaks up with her girlfriend (Judy Greer), which was her first relationship since the love of her life died. Moments afterwards her granddaughter Sage (Julia Gamer) shows up asking for money to get an abortion later in the afternoon. With Elle being broke the two set out to try and come up with the money as well as learn about a few mistakes in their past.

GRANDMA isn't a masterpiece or even a very good movie but it's a breezy entertainment that manages to have some great performances, a few nice laughs and a couple tender moments as well. The film comes from writer-director Paul Weitz and it's certainly an entertaining movie even if it never reaches the heights that I'm sure everyone was shooting for.

The film manages to find Tomlin giving one of the best performances of her career as this hot-tempered lesbian who will stop at pretty much nothing to get her opinion across and help her granddaughter. I thought she was very believable in the part and there's no question that the actress can handle sharp comments but it's the heart she brings the character that is so memorable. Gamer is also very good as her partner in crime and manages to build a real character. Greer and Marcia Gay Harden are both good in their small supporting roles but it's Sam Elliott who steals the picture in a very heart-wrenching performance. I'm not going to spoil what his sequence is about but it's certainly the highlight of the film.

At just 78 minutes there's certainly nothing too demanding here and there's really not too much to the story. The ladies hit the road and we see Elle having to deal with several members of her past. I'm sure the subject matter might turn some people off but it's really nothing too offensive and it's handled in a very good way. GRANDMA is a good little gem that's going to be remembered for the performances.

"I'm not trying to ruin your life. I'm not perfect, we're not all perfect." Elle (Tomlin) is bitter and stubborn. When she gets into a fight with her girlfriend and they break up she acts tough. When her granddaughter Sage (Garner) asking for her help Elle takes her under her wing and does everything she can to help her out. What Elle finds is that this experience helps her more than she expected. This is a movie I was not sure what to expect. The few Lily Tomlin movies I have seen have been Big Business and 9 to 5, not really my favorites. I was totally shocked by her in this movie, in a good way. Lily Tomlin is hilarious in this and plays a role you have never seen her in before. Picture Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa as portrayed by Lily Tomlin. The stuff she says is pretty offensive and so out of the blue that you can't help but laugh. The movie does have a very good message and is very much worth seeing but the real reason to check this out is for Lily Tomlin. Overall, smartly written with a version of Lily Tomlin you have never seen. I give this a B+.

Now I get that this movie is not for everyone. It's very "talky" (the dialog though is really something to behold, unless you have issues with bad language) and it has very strong female roles/characters throughout. Male counterparts are very few and in between. Though still cast greatly as you can see in the cast list.

And you need every piece to make this work. And work it does, when you hear Lily T. going off and see her flaws, but also her charm, it's pure joy to watch. Unless you do want your movies packed with action rather than words of course or where expecting this to be a horror movie (the title alone could suggest a lot of things, if you are not aware of the story). I'm almost surprised by the fact this has not a higher rating though ... and it's kind of a shame!

Greetings again from the darkness. Perhaps your mental picture of a grandma is the familiar form of a Norman Rockwell painting … a sweet, bespectacled little lady baking pies or knitting booties or kicking back in a rocking chair as the grandkids romp around her. If so, Lily Tomlin will jolt you into reality with her performance in this latest from writer/director Paul Weitz (About a Boy, American Pie).

The film kicks off with Elle (Ms. Tomlin) breaking up with her much younger girlfriend (Judy Greer). As with many relationship break-ups, the tone shifts quickly with an increase in 'let's talk about it'. Elle tosses out "You're a footnote" as a zinger that quickly ends any hope of reconciliation. It's an uncomfortable opening scene that aptly sets the stage for what we are going to witness over the rest of the movie … Elle has lived quite a life, but has been unable to move on since the death of her long time companion – a recurring subject throughout.

The six segments of the film are titled: Endings, Ink, Apes, The Ogre, Kids, Dragonflies. Don't expect those descriptions to help you guess the direction of the film. Instead, it plays out like a road trip through Elle's past … albeit with a very contemporary feel. See, her granddaughter Sage (Julia Garner) shows up at the house asking to borrow $600 for an abortion. Despite her career as a poet of some notoriety, Elle is tapped out at the moment. So the two of them set out in Elle's 1955 Dodge Royal (Ms. Tomlin's real life car), and proceed to visit people (and hit them up for cash) who have played a role in Elle's most interesting life.

During this journey – which all happens during a single day – the ladies cross paths with Sage's clueless boyfriend (a miscast Nat Woolf), a transgender tattoo artist (Laverne Cox) who owes Elle the money she lent for enhancement, a small business owner (the final appearance of the late Elizabeth Pena) who is a bit more tough-minded than Elle gives her credit for, a long ago ex-husband of Elle's (the best performance from Sam Elliott in years) who still carries heartbreak , and most bombastic of all, Elle's daughter and Sage's mom – a workaholic, no non-sense, Type A professional (played with vigor by Marcia Gay Harden).

Much will be made of the film treating Sage's decision so matter-of-factly, but it makes for nice contrast to Juno, where the decision to abort an unwanted pregnancy is abruptly reversed when she's told the baby has fingernails. This movie even offers a tip of the cap to that scene (bravo Sarah Burns), but is never preachy or heavy-handed in its dealing with Sage. It's a young girl in a real life situation, and she is depending on her dysfunctional family to provide financial and moral support.

One might describe this as an art-house movie with wider appeal. Lily Tomlin makes this a must-see, as do Julia Garner and Sam Elliott. Some will avoid it due to the abortion topic, but this is much more a story of three strong women who are related to each other – even if they don't always relate to each other.

It's a rare event, but, yes, sometimes the director of American Pie makes a really good movie. The last one was probably About a Boy back in 2002. Grandma is a charming little indie with some fine acting, good character work and some touching emotion. Lily Tomlin plays an aging lesbian poet who is visited by her granddaughter (Julia Garner). She is hoping for money to pay for an abortion, but Grandma is broke. The film follows them as they go from place to place, hoping to get a loan or owed money or sell something valuable. The past is filled in by these encounters. The supporting cast is ace and includes Marcia Gay Harden, Sam Elliot, Judy Greer, Elizabeth Pena (who passed away about a year ago) and Laverne Cox (lovely to see her make the leap to feature film). It's Tomlin's movie, of course, but one should not overlook how good Garner is in the more passive role. I knew I recognized her from somewhere - it turned out to be Martha Marcy May Marlene - she should become a huge star. Okay, maybe it's because she's cute and I love her hair so much, but she is very good here.