Family

First thing you notice is Great performances and new attempt in the script for a female lead has worked well. Kudos to the writer Laura Steinel for directing the movie too. RogerEbert.com called Taylor Schilling should have become a more valued cinematic asset. Couldn't agree more. After years working on Orange, she has build a stage on working with an ensemble without ego, that is very much vibrant with her scenes with Maddie (another brilliant performer). Kudos to the team and taking enough risks to bring this flick to the screen. Hope it pays off.

Directed by Laura Steinel in first feature- Taylor Schilling plays Kate, an unlikeable workaholic forced to care for her pre-teen niece, Maddie for a week while she struggles with fitting in and BECOMING A JUGGALO? This film takes a relationship that isn't often explored and sheds light on what it means to be a family. With Kate being our anti-hero and we actually root for her as she begins to care more and more for the well-being of her niece Maddie and her happiness. It's a breath of fresh air to see a comedy that doesn't center it's female lead on finding a guy to achieve her happiness, or giving up her job for her family. This film takes a common plot and gives it a new perspective. I can't wait to see what Steinel does next.

In a typical Hollywood film, the protagonist has to be likeable. If she's a career woman, more often than not she's also obsessed with finding a man. "Family" throws those and other familiar tropes out of window. Another is the too-cute-for-own-good sidekick or child, who shows the protagonist how to be a better person. Kate (Taylor Schilling) is a mean and self-absorbed executive when she is forced to take care of her awkward neice Maddie (Bryn Vale), who'd rather be doing roundhouse karate kicks than pirouettes in ballet class. Sure, the two learn from each other, but not necessarily in ways that typical movie audiences would expect. Depending on your sensibility, this could be either refreshing or infuriating, but never boring. The cast of mostly fresh faces keep things moving along. For those looking for a comedy with more of an edge than the typical film showing at the multplex, "Family" is definitely worth a look.

While this is not a great movie, it was funny enough. If you're only going for Kate McKinnon, her role is small but choice. But the main cast was also solid. Well worth watching. But take a closer look at the user reviews. Funny thing -- all of the 1 star reviews were posted on the same day. It looks to me like a bunch of haters got together and vomited their bile on this movie.