St. Vincent (2014)

Genre: Comedy / Drama

Directed by: Theodore Melfi

Cast: Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts

Running time: 102 minutes

On the surface, Vincent MacKenna looks like nothing but a grumpy old alcoholic, who drinks, gambles and wastes his life away, but, like most other people, he has a story. In Vincent’s case, it might be more noteworthy than one would originally think. When a newly-separated mom and her young son move next door to Vincent, the old man ends up babysitting as a very last option in a dire situation and he takes the boy under his wing. Maybe the innocence of a child, free of preconceived ideas, can get to the bottom of what kind of man Vincent truly is.

How amazing it is to see Bill Murray again in a comedic role. He is given a lot to work with as Vincent MacKenna and he sure did show the extent of his talent. He offers a great mixture of humor, crassness and sensitivity, making his character so very loveable in spite of his many flaws. Melissa McCarthy has a secondary role here, as an overwhelmed newly-single mom working long hours to provide for her son, but she does it justice. Jaeden Lieberer is also very solid as the young boy. A special mention for Naomi Watts, who is unrecognizable as a European pole dance/prostitute.

Sure, by the end, St. Vincent gets a tad sentimental, but, really, I don’t care. It made me laugh, it choked me up in some places; what we have here is a compelling storyline delivered on screen by solid actors. And, it was all put together efficiently by the filmmakers to make a beautiful film. This is a work of art that does not take itself seriously, which makes it even more charming. And, the end credits, with Bill Murray and a Bob Dylan song; it kept me hooked to my seat. Overall, this is a movie I love very much and that I will see again for sure.

Rating: «««««