[yasr_overall_rating]
Frank, a single man raising his child prodigy niece Mary, is drawn into a custody battle with his mother.
“Gifted” is a must see movie. Not only am I dying to watch this extraordinary film again, but I also plan to buy it as soon as it’s on iTunes. The day-to-day humor found in life meets the incredibleness of an unusual life in a beautiful way. With an exceptional cast and terrific writing, this movie is at the top of the film list for 2017. Chris Evans is remarkable along with fellow co-stars McKenna Grace, Lindsay Duncan, Jenny Slate, and the irreplaceable Octavia Spencer. Miss McKenna Grace was so realistic in her role as Mary, I think I will have a hard time remembering her as anyone but Mary.
Hot Uncle Frank (Chris Evans) takes in his baby niece, who just happens to be a genius. By the time the baby, Mary (McKenna Grace), is seven-years-old, she is too smart for her own good, and that includes her smart mouth. Frank homeschools Mary while living in a rundown shack-sized apartment while fixing boats to bring in cash. Next door neighbor, Roberta (Octavia Spencer), is a fixture in the tiny family’s life. When Frank decides to stop homeschooling Mary and put in first grade to help her socialize with children, Roberta worries Frank’s past will come back to haunt him and Mary.
Mary does not want to go to school, where all the kids are idiotic (aka cannot do complicated math in their head). Frank is determined to give Mary what her deceased mother, Diane, would have wanted: a simple life focused on love, fun, and friendship. The first few days of school prove to be an unsuccessful experience as Mary has a hard time dumbing down to the level of her peers. When Grandma Evelyn (Lindsay Duncan) shows up out of the blue, she rocks the boat and causes trouble for her son and granddaughter.
Haunted by her daughter’s death, Evelyn sees Mary as a second chance at the prestige associated with true genius. She seeks to show up out of the blue seven years later and take Mary under her wing to use Mary’s full potential. Frank refuses to let go of the child to a controlling mother with a single focus. Determined to keep his promise to his sister Diane, Frank fights for custody of Mary to ensure her life includes more than advanced mathematics and solving the complicated problem Diane had set to solve before her death.
Despite the custody battle, Frank and Evelyn keep up their normal banter of mother and son, knowing both of them want what is best for Mary; they simply disagree on what is best for the precocious child. When the court determines to separate Mary from both Frank and Evelyn, Frank gives in as self-doubt plagues him, despite constant reassurance from Roberta and love interest Bonnie (Jenny Slate). When secrets come tumbling out of the closet and Mary is forced to cope with a new life, truth forces Frank to take action and become the father he was meant to be.
Mary is a muggle version of Hermione Granger from Harry Potter; you love her, but sometimes you want to smack the sass out of her mouth. Also, like Hermione, Mary is a know-it-all. What else would be expected from a child genius too big for her body? Not to mention, once you see the film you will understand all the complicated layers leading to Mary’s prickly personality. Level-headed Frank remains a constant to keep Mary from becoming too full of herself, so at some point, she would be able to fit into society.
What I love about “Gifted” is the writer and the cast’s ability to show all sides of the equation: Frank’s, Evelyn’s, and Mary’s. With two front teeth missing, Mary has a lot of growing to do both in empathy and socializing with those she considers beneath her. The sharp wit in the dialogue keeps momentum along with the understanding of gray matter. Not everything is black and white, what should a child focus on? Is enjoying life more important than solving the mysteries of math to provide a better future for the next generation? With two guardians and several additional adults watching out for Mary, a happy compromise is found where she has one foot in the real world and one foot in Genius land, unknown to many.
In theaters Friday, April 7th
