As far as teenage girl coming of age stories goes, this one is arguably going to be an instant classic. Sure there's the typical plot tropes about teen romance, dysfunctional families, BFFs, general hijinx, social anxieties, and what not, so it's not entirely a completely unique film. However the integration to the story of having it be set in a Catholic High School, plus the city of Sacramento overall, adds that extra bit of layer for it to really stand out.
It's the many different moments that helps makes this movie endearing. From the comedy bits to the more emotionally dramatic ones. There are funny gags involving communion wafers, pranking a nun, to the most unbelievable way of getting out of an argument in a moving vehicle. Then there's the serious scenes involving a depressed Priest, discourse among friends, and the many arguments between a daughter and her Mother. Actually those Mother-Daughter arguments can be pretty funny too.
The cast overall is great in this. From Tracy Letts, Beanie Feldstein, to Lucas Hedges. But speaking of the Mother and Daughter... Laurie Metcalf is excellent in this, and helps with the emotional core of the story. Her relationship, constant bickering, and chemistry with Saoirse Ronan is top notch! That leaves us with Ronan herself as Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, who is simply amazing in this movie. Playing the neurotic, very outspoken, and impulsive, teenage girl who is frustrated with living in the city of Sacramento, Saoirse Ronan is like a force of nature here, balancing a spectacular act in effortlessly doing bits of comedy, to the more heartbreaking moments.
I've always liked Greta Gerwig as an actress, but now I also really like her as the Writer-Director of this movie. All the little quirks and personalities that she is able to bring out from the characters and of the locations in this movie is simply wonderful. Charming, fascinating, and insightful, “Lady Bird” definitely deserves to be up there in the pantheon of teenage girl coming of age movies.
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