In order to truly stand out from the crowd, one must go the extra mile in embracing who they want to be beyond societal expectations. In the case of Canadian filmmaker Pat Mills' 2017 teen centered comedy Don't Talk to Irene, the film is a charmingly abrasive tale of human embodiment from the perspective of an unpopular high schooler. Although the film didn't seem to get a lot of attention outside of its original release, it is still worth checking out for those curious enough to see how one could see the blending of mindless teenagers and cynical senior citizens.
The film centers on overweight high school outcast Irene, who aspires to be a cheerleader. After getting suspended from school, Irene is forced to spend community hours at a retirement home, where she ends up indulging her cheerleading passion by enrolling a group of senior citizens for a dance competition. It's easy to see how the setup isn't the most original out there, as the unconventional and unpopular high schooler trope proves to be fairly by the numbers. On top of Irene's mother and school bullies being some of the many reasons the titular character's self esteem is next to none, even the school system seems to be nothing but against the poor girl. That being said, what does keep the film intriguing throughout its runtime are the many creative choices brought to us by Irene's unique optimism, including acclaimed actress Geena Davis playing a guiding light in the teen pariah's unfortunate life. From the mere fact that the town the characters reside in is meant to be the "most insignificant geographical location in North America," it's easy to see why Irene wants a bigger purpose in life.
As for the senior citizen factor, a lot of them are a lot more grumpy and pessimistic than Irene is, but also a bit more mature than other snotty high schoolers, not just her bullies. Many of them actually end up being better role models than Irene's ridiculously overprotective mother who would rather ban her own daughter from having fun than teach her more about right from wrong. In addition, they all range in personalities without containing any of the cliched old people sappiness common in other works of fiction, including the belligerent new guy Charles, the naively clueless Millie and the filthy mouthed sex addict Ruth. The addition of showcasing montages with Irene teaching the otherwise crabby seniors to dance is delightful in demonstrating a contrast between Irene's miserable personal life and the resentment her bullies get from watching her try and succeed in spite of the difficulties. By elevating the routine setup to hysterically charming antics, the execution of how much enthusiasm Irene generates from being herself is a testament to how much sincerity came from this picture.
In bringing together teen anomalies and brushed-off seniors for a foully wholesome tale of empowerment, Don't Talk to Irene might be one of the most sincere features that allows its message of embracing who you are to shine bright like a star. Whether or not this is the type of film that intrigues you, the subject matter alone is timeless enough to lend some universal appeal in some way shape or form. Even if you no longer go to high school, a lot can be taken from a simple story of someone wanting to become something that society doesn't see as ideal, which we can all relate to.
The film centers on overweight high school outcast Irene, who aspires to be a cheerleader. After getting suspended from school, Irene is forced to spend community hours at a retirement home, where she ends up indulging her cheerleading passion by enrolling a group of senior citizens for a dance competition. It's easy to see how the setup isn't the most original out there, as the unconventional and unpopular high schooler trope proves to be fairly by the numbers. On top of Irene's mother and school bullies being some of the many reasons the titular character's self esteem is next to none, even the school system seems to be nothing but against the poor girl. That being said, what does keep the film intriguing throughout its runtime are the many creative choices brought to us by Irene's unique optimism, including acclaimed actress Geena Davis playing a guiding light in the teen pariah's unfortunate life. From the mere fact that the town the characters reside in is meant to be the "most insignificant geographical location in North America," it's easy to see why Irene wants a bigger purpose in life.
As for the senior citizen factor, a lot of them are a lot more grumpy and pessimistic than Irene is, but also a bit more mature than other snotty high schoolers, not just her bullies. Many of them actually end up being better role models than Irene's ridiculously overprotective mother who would rather ban her own daughter from having fun than teach her more about right from wrong. In addition, they all range in personalities without containing any of the cliched old people sappiness common in other works of fiction, including the belligerent new guy Charles, the naively clueless Millie and the filthy mouthed sex addict Ruth. The addition of showcasing montages with Irene teaching the otherwise crabby seniors to dance is delightful in demonstrating a contrast between Irene's miserable personal life and the resentment her bullies get from watching her try and succeed in spite of the difficulties. By elevating the routine setup to hysterically charming antics, the execution of how much enthusiasm Irene generates from being herself is a testament to how much sincerity came from this picture.
In bringing together teen anomalies and brushed-off seniors for a foully wholesome tale of empowerment, Don't Talk to Irene might be one of the most sincere features that allows its message of embracing who you are to shine bright like a star. Whether or not this is the type of film that intrigues you, the subject matter alone is timeless enough to lend some universal appeal in some way shape or form. Even if you no longer go to high school, a lot can be taken from a simple story of someone wanting to become something that society doesn't see as ideal, which we can all relate to.