With so many larger budget films in the crowded summer Girl Most Likely gets buried and unless you are an ardent indie fan you’ll probably not seek it out. For those who are interested however, the fair dramedy drags its way in and out of life’s troublesome circumstances to a worn out ending. It may be a Kristen Wiig film, but Annette Bening saves most of any value the story has to offer.
The film follows Imogene (Kristen Wiig) a looser of a New York playwright who squanders a $45 thousand writing award on making friends from the high society Upper East Side. Now without an income and a script she starts loosing those contacts and even her live-in rich boyfriend who dumps her for greener pastures. Upset and forlorn she writes a suicide note and takes two sleeping pills. She’s discovered and rushed to the hospital where they pump her stomach and call in a psychiatrist who semi Baker Act’s her.
Not enough room in the hospital they contact her estranged eccentric mother Zelda (Annette Bening) who reluctantly decides to take her back home to Ocean City, New Jersey. When a spark of romance comes out of nowhere, Imogene starts to snap out of her self-centered lifestyle. Thus starts a quirky story of one woman trying to overcome her mistakes and make realistic life changing decisions. It’s a new beginning that shows there’s more to life if one just takes a closer look at what you already have.
Directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini who collaborated on films like Extra Man and American Splendor unfortunately turn Girl Most Likely into a dull ‘so what’ movie. The story gets a little too formulaic and predictive making it a tough challenge to enjoy the acting and direction. Although Kristen Wiig is within her element of bringing special characters to the screen, but here she’s just another player going through the motions playing a woman who has taken a wrong turn on the road to her future. If the film had not injected a pretty good romantic subplot the film would have been a total loss.
I would like to tell you how great the cinematography, sets and costumes are, but with New York City and New Jersey being the locations and limited number of clothing changes, no dice. Director of Photography Steve Yedlin (Looper) keeps his camera rolling but the rather inexperience in the lighting department makes most scenes dull and uninviting. Comedic car scenes, a limo ride with friends, extreme nightclub outing, romantic walks along the Jersey Shore and interiors of Imogene’s mother’s home are often too dark to enjoy the snappy dialogue, canoodling and wild dancing.
Matt Dillon is way over the top at times as George Bosche a spy who nonchalantly brags about his work, often. He’s Zelda’s squeeze and she adores the fact that he’s filled with mystery. As free spirited Zelda Bening gives a very good performance being reintroduced to the daughter. You can feel Zelda’s hurt because it was her gambling addiction that caused Imogene to leave her household. Yet we find Imogene with a compulsion of her own, buying friendships.
Girl Most Likely has been rated PG-13 for sexual content and language.
Additional Film Information:
- Cast: Kristen Wiig, Annette Bening, Matt Dillion, Natasha Lyonne
- Directed by: Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini
- Genre: Comedy, Drama
- MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual content and language
- Running Time: 1 hr 43 min
- Opening Date: July 19, 2013
- Distributed by: Roadside Attractions
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
