“America’s Favorite Greta” creates a perfect teen dramedy.
It’s not two minutes into Lady Bird that the audience both gasps and guffaws in this pitch-perfect rendition of teen life in the early aughts, and it doesn’t let up from there.
Writer/director Greta Gerwig might have risen to fame with such chatty numbers as Hannah Takes the Stairs and more recently Frances Ha, but being in control shows she’s a creative force beyond her “mumblecore” beginnings.
The “Lady Bird” in Lady Bird is embodied by Saoirse Ronan, with no lilting Irish accent in sight. The stage is Sacramento, a nowheres-burg that just happens to be be Gerwig’s hometown.
In standard teenage fashion, Christine, or Lady Bird as she demands to be called, can’t see the good or the goodness around her, especially from her hard-driving mother, played masterfully by Laurie Metcalf. Tracy Letts is the sad-sack dad, who’s got kind of a “Johnny Fever from WKRP but getting older” kind of vibe.
The are conflicts and complications in every part of this young lady’s life, from best friends, old and new, to siblings, boyfriends, school…you name it. As a senior, getting into college, especially one far away from Sactown, is of paramount importance, and this quest keeps the character focused on the future.
There are so many perfect moments Gerwig has captured: subtle teen acne, cringe-worthy high school theatre, and the best use of “Crash” by Dave Matthews the silver screen as ever seen.
Lady Bird might get pigeonholed as a coming-of-age story set post-9/11, but this vibrant, life-affirming, and just plain hilarious movie will entertain anyone who gets a chance to see it.
