St. Vincent

So I saw St. Vincent, and here's the thing: I know when I'm being manipulated, OK? This is a pretty basic movie, Bill Murray is an old curmudgeon and Jaeden Lieberher is a precocious kid and the two of them learn from each other and all that. The kid gets a little tougher, the curmudgeon gets a little softer. In the end we learn a lesson about judging books by their covers and so on. It culminates in a big presentation the kid gives that shows us all the wonderful things the curmudgeon is hiding behind is tough exterior, and then the theater releases a crap load of dust into the air and you have to rub your eyes and stuff...don't look at me, it's dusty! Like I said, it's manipulative and the beats are pretty clear, and it's up to the talent to raise things to the next level.

I think Bill Murray does a great job at this. To me his character Vincent seems like a classic smart-ass Bill Murray character (like from Stripes or Meatballs) who as grown old to the point that being a smart-ass is not longer cute or charming, but just kind of makes you a jerk. It makes Vincent likable but prickly, and ultimately makes his redemption at the hands of the kid Oliver believable.

Jaeden Lieberher is pretty good as the kid, Oliver. He delivers his lines well and manages to be wise-beyond-his-years without being grating. There's a thin line kids in movies have to walk to avoid being annoying or painful to watch, and he does a decent job, especially when he's acting as the straight man for both Murray and Melissa McCarthy.

While it's basically just a comedy, the level of the cast, its time of release, and some high-quality stroke acting makes me wonder if this movie is actually some sort of stealth Oscar bait, we'll see I guess. If you're looking for a fun movie with some decent warm fuzzies at the end, this could be right up your alley. Worth a shot.