St Vincent
Director: Theodore Melfi
Starring: Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts
102 mins; Class 12;
KRS Releasing Ltd
Bill Murray is at his best as Vincent, a cantankerous man who winds up looking after his new neighbour’s 12-year-old son Oliver ((Jaeden Lieberher) while she is at work.
Being the misanthrope he is, Vincent resents Oliver’s presence, although it is not long before the strained relationship between the two begins to thaw. Oliver slowly starts coming out of his shell and learning to stand up for himself and Vincent’s better nature overcomes his default grumpiness.
Despite the soppy-sounding summary – and its ultimately predictable outcome – there is so much to enjoy in St Vincent; most notably the central relationship which unfolds over various trips to Vincent’s favourite haunts.
These are hardly the places suiable for a child, given that they are the race track, a strip club and a seedy bar.
Murray’s deadpan brand of performance is always funny in and of itself, but his genius lies in the many emotions he manages to evoke with that same po-faced veneer of his.
He enjoys some particularly special moments here, either angry ones when going to Oliver’s aid in a sudden act of violence (hurling a skateboard at a young kid), or tender ones when he visits a loved one at a retirement home.
There is a solid cast led by a veteran at the top of his game
He is not merely a slovenly, pot-bellied, alcoholic, gambler and all-round loser; as portrayed by Murray, the loneliness of this man who has faced many problems in life is palpable.
Young Lieberher is a perfect foil for the veteran comedian – the young actor brings to the role a sweet innocence combined with a biting wit, blessed with a sly aptitude for droll delivery and there is much to relish in this odd couple’s burgeoning relationship as the younger boy chips away at the resistance of the older man.
In strong supporting parts are Naomi Watts and Melissa McCarthy in roles we’re not used to seeing them in.
Watts displays great comic timing as the no-nonsense pregnant Russian stripper Daka whom Vincent is dating.
The accent may be rather dodgy, but it somehow adds to the charm of the warm-hearted character. McCarthy leaves her customary bag of tricks behind and brings genuine poignancy to the role of the recently-divorced Maggie, struggling with a move to a new town, a demanding job and raising a child.
There are many instances this really sweet and feel-good comedy threatens to get bogged down in saccharine, but there is a solid cast led by a veteran at the top of his game and a novice writer/director with a good grip on proceedings. This makes it a hard task to avoid getting all choked up at the end when the titular Vincent gets what he truly deserves.