The Rest of Us

I just finished watching The Rest of Us (2019). Directed by Aisling Chin-Yee, this Canadian drama stars Heather Graham, Sophie Nélisse, Jodi Balfour, and Abigail Pniowsky. When her ex-husband dies suddenly, Cami (Graham) invites his second wife (Balfour) and daughter (Pniowsky) to stay with her and her teenaged daughter (Nélisse). The four women deal with their grief, while trying to navigate their complicated relationship and history. I was very invested in all four main characters and their journey. The film was well written and I thought all four lead actors did a good job. I would definitely recommend this film to anyone who appreciates an intelligent, engaging female driven drama. My rating is an 8/10.

It's extremely refreshing to see a movie that doesn't depend on male characters or male actors. It was very real and really gives you a lot to think about as far as how we as women can dramatically impact each other through our choices. We can also choose to have compassion and choose to forgive -even if it's extremely hard.

The Rest of Us is a subtle, character-driven drama that explores grief, complicated relationships, and resilience. While the film doesn't reinvent the genre, it manages to deliver an intimate and heartfelt story with moments of genuine emotion.

Heather Graham gives one of her strongest performances, bringing depth and nuance to her role. She effortlessly balances vulnerability and strength, making her character both relatable and compelling. The chemistry between the cast members adds to the authenticity of the film's emotional weight, even when the story itself feels somewhat predictable.

Though the pacing is slow at times and the narrative doesn't take many risks, The Rest of Us remains an engaging watch, thanks to its strong performances and quiet yet impactful storytelling. It may not be groundbreaking, but it's a well-acted drama worth watching.

Overall the movie was pretty good. I don't feel the actresses had a chance to shine as much as they could have. It was a slow start and then a rushed ending. Just when it started getting interesting there was only about 30 minutes left. I think it would have made a good TV show. Overall I was left wanting. I believe this really had a lot of potential that was wasted.

I didn't think I'd enjoy The Rest of Us but I decided to take a chance on it. I love how the film evolved and how in such a short amount of time (90 minutes) the four characters connected. Several times I reflected on how I would handle a situation like this. I'd like to believe I'd handle it with the same grace as Cami but I don't know.