St. Vincent tells a familiar story: two unlikely heroes come together, abrasively at first, but ultimately to their mutual benefit. You can certainly gather that much from the film's trailer alone, and the film is marketed exactly for what it is, though, at times it can feel a bit like a Hollywood comedy trying very hard to feel like an indie comedy. As with any character study, the plot becomes less important, and emphasis on individual performances is heightened. Luckily, with a star studded cast such as this one––Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts, Chris O'Dowd, Terrence Howard––the performances are all strong, each in their own way.
Melissa McCarthy is sweet and subtle as Maggie, a single mom struggling to make ends meet. She cuts her teeth on dramatic acting here in a way that she hasn't really attempted before. The empathy she cultivates in the audience for Maggie's struggle is testament to how strong a performer McCarthy truly is, and is not to be overlooked. And then, of course, there's Bill Murray. Let's face it, the man can do no wrong. The beauty here is that with a simplistic, straight-forward story such as this, it allows Murray to flex his comedic muscles and explore. The result will no doubt remind you, if you've by some chance forgotten, of Murray's masterful command of comedy. The entire audience stayed until the very end at the screening I attended, paralyzed by Murray's charm while he toys with a garden hose as the credits roll.
And although Melissa McCarthy and Bill Murray are wonderful, the biggest and most satisfying surprise of St. Vincent is Jaeden Lieberher as Oliver. His delivery of every line is precise, well-timed, and surgical. Too many child actors are thrown into Hollywood and harvested like a cash crop for cuteness. Lieberher is more than just a cute kid. The sweet moments are played with nuance and delicacy that is reminiscent in many ways of a young Haley Joel Osment. This is all to say that St. Vincent is a success primarily because of the outstanding cast and performances they deliver. They've made a decent script into a highly entertaining final product, and stretch their characters beyond archetypical constraints––which is no small triumph.
Ultimately, this is a film that reminds us of the important parallels between growing up and growing old. At times, St. Vincent is incredibly shameless about it's feel-goodness, but it's not at all bothersome. It's a film that implores you take chances––befriend someone unexpected. It's a film that believes that life ought be playful, light, and spent in the company of your own brand of lovable weirdos. You'll walk out of the theater hugging yourself.
