Review of Lady Bird (2017) by Jon D — 06 Sep 2018

I was apprehensive about Lady Bird. All I really knew about it going in is that it was written and directed by Greta Gerwig. I only know Gerwig through her work with Noah Baumbach and I've never been fond of her.

But Lady Bird won me over. This film feels so intimately relatable, filled with hilarious and heartwarming moments of strength, weakness, and growing up. Years ago it was recommended that I watch Frances Ha, a film that Gerwig co-wrote and starred in.

Frances Ha was very well reviewed, everyone seemed to love it, but I thought it was meandering and pretentious. Some of that same feeling is here, but so much better utilized. The pretension becomes funny and familiar when voiced by teenagers who are trying to sound cool, and the sometimes unfocused story makes you feel like you're back in high school.

The script could probably use some tightening up with a more solid plot, but really the movie is about its themes and relationships. Saoirse Ronan turns in an incredible performance, Lady Bird is such a completely realized and believable character.

It's some really excellent work, she is the main thing that holds up this movie, and is wonderfully aided by her supporting cast.