I've heard only good reviews about this film and I have to admit, I was excited to see what was it all about. After watching it though I have to say it was a bit disappointing.
The plot is supposed to be this coming of age story, about a young high school student who's coming into terms with who she is and what she wants to do. Yet, I didn't find it interesting for the main fact that it is hoarded to death! How many times have we seen this concept in movies? The sidetracked high school teen wanting to get with the "in" crowd, going through phases of "rebellions", trying to be oh so "edgy" and "cool" just to realize that she was doing more harm to those who actually cared about her towards the end. We have seen this more than once already, so Lady bird offers nothing original or creative.
The financial issues are meant to be centre stage in this movie, and I have to say they do play a bigger role than just people talking about them but even that is quite minor and does nothing but serve as a dramatic/plot device that is just easily discarded as the movie rolls. I mean her family is supposed to be struggling financially since the setting is that of the early 2000s, yet LadyBird still manages to afford and go to a "private" catholic school that is filled with rich students, she can still get a new dress to go to prom, her family lives in Sacramento, CA not exactly the cheapest state out there and they seem to be pulling off just nicely. Yes, they might not be as well off as the rest of the crowd living around them but they're doing just fine! To me the financial issues just seemed surreal and unrealistic. They're more Middle class than poor.
The ending is just anti-climatic. She finally gets what she wants, LadyBird never struggles to get what she wants. She never have to study hard or pull off hardships to make her dreams come true, aside from being suspended for being a jerk at school, dating a few jocks and throwing fits at her mom. She has it pretty easy. Her character is bratty and it's very hard for anyone to sympathize or relate to her as a person. I know I didn't.
Would I recommend this film to anybody? Not really. There are many other movies with a similar theme so it is very likely that you have come across one of these films before. LadyBird just draws the same elements from most high school/teen dramas and repackage them into a different setting with different characters and that is it. The plot is rehashed and recycled, it makes the film quite forgettable.
The plot is supposed to be this coming of age story, about a young high school student who's coming into terms with who she is and what she wants to do. Yet, I didn't find it interesting for the main fact that it is hoarded to death! How many times have we seen this concept in movies? The sidetracked high school teen wanting to get with the "in" crowd, going through phases of "rebellions", trying to be oh so "edgy" and "cool" just to realize that she was doing more harm to those who actually cared about her towards the end. We have seen this more than once already, so Lady bird offers nothing original or creative.
The financial issues are meant to be centre stage in this movie, and I have to say they do play a bigger role than just people talking about them but even that is quite minor and does nothing but serve as a dramatic/plot device that is just easily discarded as the movie rolls. I mean her family is supposed to be struggling financially since the setting is that of the early 2000s, yet LadyBird still manages to afford and go to a "private" catholic school that is filled with rich students, she can still get a new dress to go to prom, her family lives in Sacramento, CA not exactly the cheapest state out there and they seem to be pulling off just nicely. Yes, they might not be as well off as the rest of the crowd living around them but they're doing just fine! To me the financial issues just seemed surreal and unrealistic. They're more Middle class than poor.
The ending is just anti-climatic. She finally gets what she wants, LadyBird never struggles to get what she wants. She never have to study hard or pull off hardships to make her dreams come true, aside from being suspended for being a jerk at school, dating a few jocks and throwing fits at her mom. She has it pretty easy. Her character is bratty and it's very hard for anyone to sympathize or relate to her as a person. I know I didn't.
Would I recommend this film to anybody? Not really. There are many other movies with a similar theme so it is very likely that you have come across one of these films before. LadyBird just draws the same elements from most high school/teen dramas and repackage them into a different setting with different characters and that is it. The plot is rehashed and recycled, it makes the film quite forgettable.