Review of The Pretty One (2014) by Meghna P — 10 Feb 2014

"They told her to get a life. They didn't say whose." - tagline for Supergirl comic book in the 90's.

In "The Pretty One," Laurel(Zoe Kazan) begins her birthday by losing her virginity to Hunter(Sterling Beaumon) who she used to babysit for. Otherwise, it is business as usual as she takes care of her widowed painter father(John Carroll Lynch) before her twin sister Ashley(Zoe Kazan) shows up for the celebration. Disapproving of her sister's lack of a life, Ashley invites Laurel back with her to the big city. And all goes as planned until tragedy strikes and a sister is killed in a car accident. With everybody thinking it is Laurel who has died when instead it is Ashley, Laurel sees her chance and takes over her sister's identity and moves to the city...

While "The Pretty One" has some surprises in store for Laurel as to the truth of Ashley's life, the movie also has some good thoughts along the same line of how you cannot truly know somebody until you have walked a mile in their high heels.(Just ask quantum physicist Sam Beckett if you do not believe me.) Otherwise, the movie can be just as awkward as its heroine in expressing those ideas. So, it is a good thing that Zoe Kazan is excellent in dual roles, even if she is a little outside of her comfort zone. Plus, the movie also has Jake Johnson's easy going charm going for it.