8/10

A couple times a year Hollywood will bring us a film with a solid script, but with amazing performances that pushes the movie even further than it was possibly intended. That’s not to say that writer Ted Milfi didn’t do a superb job of writing good scenarios for his characters to play out, but it’s just that the actors really had a fun time making this film, and it shows with memorable performances from everyone around the table. St Vincent is the story of Maggie (Melissa McCarthy), a single mother who moves into a new home in Brooklyn with her 12-year old son, Oliver (Jude Lieberher). Maggie works long hours, and she has no choice but to leave Oliver in the care of their new neighbor, Vincent (Murray), a retired freeloader with a penchant for alcohol and gambling. An odd friendship soon blossoms between the improbable pair. Together with a pregnant stripper named Daka (Naomi Watts), Vincent brings Oliver along on all the stops that make up his daily routine – the race track, a strip club, and the local dive bar. Vincent helps Oliver grow to become a man, while Oliver begins to see in Vincent something that no one else is able to: a misunderstood man with a good heart. I absolutely fell in love with this film, and there is so much to talk about. Murray should at least be considered for an Oscar nomination for the real emotions that he brings out in his jerk of a character. There are times when this film is a legitimate tearjerker, and that is thanks in part to Murray’s ability to bring out any emotion in his audience with just a facial expression. McCarthy actually portrays a different role for once, and this reviewer was pleasantly surprised with her depth for real dramatic acting. Sure, she has her comedy, but she never goes the desperate direction that she usually does in dragging out a joke. Maggie feels like a real struggling mother, and that is in part to a real actor that Melissa can be. Without a doubt though, the best part of this movie is that of Lieberher. This little kid has such a future in any form of entertainment that he takes on. There are times when he feels like more of a grown up than the two adults in his life, and it makes for some real comedic touches to spice up the movie when it reaches levels of over seriousness. That is probably the only lone problem that i had with the film. There are times when it can’t equally play out a comedy and a drama at the same time, but it surely tries. There are times in the film where it needs to be JUST comedy or JUST drama. By the film’s end, it comes off the ground nicely, but does suffer the occasional moment where you don’t know to laugh or take what is going on seriously. This movie completely kept my attention, and had me generally worried about the future wellbeing of these characters, and i feel that is a sign of any good direction and/or performances. The movie is definitely recommended for everyone. I would definitely say to go into it expecting more than just a comedy that you gathered after watching the trailer. There is a bigger message present in St Vincent, and i believe it’s that we should be aware of the everyday heroes who walk among us. The ones who like Murray, give us a reason to smile in our toughest times.