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1 week ago
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For an indie movie like I’ll Be Right There to pop up with a cast full of recognizable faces and no substantial festival run could be a troubling prospect, but Brendan Walsh’s latest film is the exception that proves the rule. Thanks to a refreshingly unique perspective and the efforts of a committed cast, I’ll Be Right There manages to be a light, likable, and funny movie.
I’ll Be Right There Review
I’ll Be Right There stars Edie Falco as a middle-aged divorcee who spends most of her time trying to please other people. As she juggles the demands of her various family members and loved ones, Falco’s character soon finds herself in over her head, satisfying no one in her attempt to please everyone.
I’ll Be Right There is most successful as a starring vehicle for its lead actress, Edie Falco, whose performance offers the right balance between funny and endearing. Falco is no stranger to roles that straddle the line between likable and unlikable and humorous and dramatic, and she brings her ability to tread these changes to her character. Walsh previously directed Falco in several episodes of her television series Nurse Jackie, so it’s clear that they enjoy working together, and the collaboration has proven to be quite fruitful.
The film also has a supporting cast with recognizable faces like Bradley Whitford (Get Out, The West Wing), Michael Rappaport (Only Murders in the Building), and Charlie Tahan (Ozark). Their chemistry with Falco is great, and while none of them has a particularly long amount of screen time, they each have at least one scene that allows them to leave an emotional impact. The ensemble understands that they are here to accentuate Falco’s role and talents, so they wisely take a backseat.
Another incredibly effective aspect of I’ll Be Right There is the level of nuance it shows with its characters. The protagonist is not shown in an overly flattering light, but Falco is so charming that it’s hard not to root for her even when her character makes some more unsavory decisions. The movie is willing to engage with the fact that the character’s attempts to be selfless are actually incredibly selfish in reality.
Unfortunately, the wide swath of characters the film follows also causes it to feel somewhat overstuffed. With a runtime of under 100 minutes and several storylines to juggle, there’s no way around it — some of the subplots are going to end up being underdeveloped. It also suffers the sin common of many ensemble-driven comedies like this, which is having to cut to another storyline as soon as one starts to become truly engaging. Still, a lot about the movie is incredibly relatable, whether you’re coming from the perspective of the protagonist, one of her kids, or someone else in the story.
This approach to the characters allows writer Jim Beggarly to explore some interesting themes like codependence. Although the film’s discussion of these topics isn’t the most thorough, that probably shouldn’t be surprising for a crowd-friendly melodrama like this. Even more impressive is that this movie does an excellent job of telling the story of an older queer woman, a demographic that often doesn’t get the representation it deserves. Having a likable comedy with recognizable stars like this could go a long way for visibility.
Is I’ll Be Right There worth seeing?
I’ll Be Right There is a pretty conventional film in terms of its story, but it overcomes this thanks to its unique perspective and representation, along with its incredible performances — especially by its lead, Edie Falco. Although the movie isn’t anything to call home about, it is refreshing to see a film aimed at older audiences that is genuinely funny and emotionally genuine.
I’ll Be Right There is now in theaters and on VOD.
7/10
Bengali (BD) · 
English (US) ·