Grandma

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.

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 thought it was a great film, very enjoyable as a girl and her grandma search for the money so that she can get an abortion.

The whole thing felt like it was two joints away from Being a stoner comedy, especially from the perspective of Lilly Tomilin's performance in it as the eccentric grandma with some serious baggage of her own who wishes to help her granddaughter, and on the this journey they take together the granddaughter learns a lot about her grandmother without coming all out to reveal anything. Lilly Tomilin takes first billing on the poster even though it seems like Julia Garner's character is really the center of attention as she explores Grandma's universe.

I Like Sam Elliot's role in the movie as well. Maybe he was just that charming, like he was supporting Blythe Danner in I'll See You in My Dreams or I feel for the character he plays, the one time love interest of Grandma before she came out of the closet. Either way it works.

It's an amusing story about family coming together when one is in need. We all should be lucky to be able to relate to what's going on. It's also about it never being too late to come though for those you love.

Very humorous.

Absolutely one of the most enjoyable films I've seen in a while with a brilliant performance from Lily Tomlin. The plot follows a girl who goes to her loud-mouthed liberal grandma for help paying for an abortion and their quest to come up with the money when they don't have enough. The film takes place over the course of one day as they drive to meet various people whom they think can help, including grandma's scorned ex-husband and her crazy work-obsessed daughter. There is a lot of comedy throughout but there's also a strong helping of drama too, and the film manages to be quirky and fun but also deeply moving at the same time. If you like intelligent adult comedies with a realistic tone then I definitely recommend you watch this as soon as you can, you won't be disappointed!

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.