What Is the Story About?
Ani Fanella (Mila Kunis) seems to have everything in her life. She has the right job and a perfect boyfriend whom she is about to marry. However, Ani hides a trauma behind her happy facade, and it all comes out when a documentary filmmaker asks her to come on board for a story based on her past.
What is the incident which has caused incurable wounds in Ani? How did she overcome it? What is the price she has to pay for it forms the movie’s basic plot.
Performances?
Mila Kunis and Chiara Aurelia play older and younger versions of Ani Fenella, the movie’s central character. Among the two, Chiara Aurelia has played the part much better and with far greater impact than Mila Kunis.
While it’s the same character, the focus and the lack off have an effect on the respective actor’s performances. Mila Kunis has an irritating progression with her character. It reflects in her acting despite such a compelling character at her hand.
Finn Wittrock has a charming part with strains of frustration. He does it with ease and makes one end up rooting for him when it shouldn’t be the case.
Analysis
Mike Barker directs Luckiest Girl Alive. It consists of a compelling and powerful central drama revolving around the abuse and violation of a girl.
Right from the start, one gets a feeling that there is something off. It feels as if there is too much effort to make a point. The stylistic choices lack impact. A ‘You’ like the fourth wall breaking dialogues, and editing doesn’t work smoothly here.
As if that’s not enough, we soon have the ambitious women troupe with Ani trying to move up the ladder and achieve something on her own and be independent.
But that’s not it; the actual story involves a gory rape incident and how Ani is grappling with its aftereffects. Now, things would have been better if the drama stopped there and focussed on it. But, it doesn’t, as gun violence too is brought in.
As one can understand by reading, too many issues are packed into the narrative. There is an attempt to simultaneously milk the drama out of them all, which gives an uneven tone to the proceedings.
Some parts are compelling and instantly ring a connection and make one emotional. They are followed by scenes which feature an entirely different issue altogether. A cohesive impact is missing as a result which would have elevated the material and also the drama.
The unevenness in the screenplay is also reflected in the lead performer, who is supposed to take us through the narrative. She has a past that makes it compulsory to take her side, but the way the whole thing comes out at the end, one doesn’t feel that way.
The message of independence, coming out and speaking one’s mind, is acceptable, but the way the whole narrative reaches that conclusion isn’t satisfactory, to put it mildly.
Overall, Luckiest Girl Alive has a compelling core story, but the many other subplots dilute the impact. We have an uneven film with impressive and emotional bits in between. If you like to see moving and traumatic drama, try it, but keep the expectations in check.
Other Artists?
The movie’s casting is good as the different supporting actors also register. Connie Britton, as the mother, shines. Her emotional outbursts and happiness sound genuine. 1scoot McNairy appears briefly but leaves an impression. Alex Barone gets some screen time at the end, where he is okay. The actors playing the younger versions have all done well. The rest don’t have much to do, barring a scene or two, and they are okay.
Music and Other Departments?
Linda Perry’s background score is decent. It goes well with the narrative, even if it does not take it to the next level. The cinematography is fine. The contrast between the past and present is neatly presented, not just concerning the acting but also visually. The editing should have been better. The writing is a mixed bag, with some bits hitting the mark.
Highlights?
Core Central Drama
Emotional Moments
Underlying Theme
Drawbacks?
Uneven Tone
Screenplay
Stuffed Narrative
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, A Few Parts
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, But With Huge Reservations
Luckiest Girl Alive Movie Review by Binged Bureau