“…fantastic, modern character study of a misanthropic grandmother opening new and old wounds as she attempts to help her granddaughter.”

Films in which a character study are the central theme can be utterly fantastic…given that the central character is interesting, of course. Films like The Imitation Game, Man on the Moon, and Love and Mercy are all based on the real-life stories of single, fascinating individuals who accomplish incredible things against all odds, including their own eccentricities. While these are based on real people, fictional character studies often need to be unique and colorful enough to maintain the audience’s attention throughout a mostly uneventful story. For example, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), which just happened to win the Oscar for Best Picture in 2015, is a rather uneventful story, yet the plot is driven by excellent performances by actors portraying complicated characters in a highly dramatic and emotionally charged time. The film Grandma (directed by Paul Weitz, 2015) is a fantastic, modern character study of a misanthropic grandmother opening new and old wounds as she attempts to help her granddaughter through a difficult time of her own. In a sense, it’s a feminist and controversial adventure comparable to Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, but instead of the coveted White Castle burgers, this dynamic duo is in search of money for an abortion.

Elle Reid (played by Lily Tomlin) begins the film by breaking up with her much younger girlfriend Olivia (Judy Greer) in a seemingly heartless fashion, immediately showcasing her hard and impenetrable emotional barricade. Before the breakup even has a chance to sink in, Elle’s young granddaughter Sage (played by Julia Garner) shows up to visit. However, family pleasantries are quickly cast aside when Sage reveals she needs $600 to pay for an appointment to abort an unplanned pregnancy scheduled for the very same day. Unable to turn to her mother Judy (played by Marcia Gay Harden), whose relationship with Elle is estranged anyhow, Elle decides to help Sage get the money. Since Elle is an unemployed writer, broke, and won’t receive any royalty money for a couple weeks, she must resort to asking for help from people in her past. As the two go from person to person in the hopes that they can get the money in time for the procedure, we learn more and more about Elle herself as her secrets are revealed and old wounds are reopened. Her blunt and unapologetically straightforward demeanor may not have made her a good person, mother, or girlfriend, but by putting the needs of Sage before her own may be enough to redeem herself as a good grandmother.

Despite its seemingly innocent title, Grandma addresses serious and real issues that are plaguing people both young and old. The hot button issue of abortion is central to the plot, of course, given that the young granddaughter has come to the decision to get one. While there is a harsh line separating many on this controversial topic, the film deals with the issue in a mature and logical fashion. Sure, if you are extremely against abortion, this may not be the film for you, because it does boast the positives of the feminist agenda and depicts the anti-abortion fanatics as extremely angry and hateful people. Yet, the film itself isn’t so much about abortion as it is the emotional journey of the main character, Elle, who must break down her own walls in order to come to terms with her life, living with loss, and being there for family. As the adventure unfolds, her seemingly crass and heartless personality is opened up to see how she became who she is and why.

The performance by Lily Tomlin as Elle is downright applaudable, and despite being what the film describes as “an asshole,” her character’s noble efforts to help her granddaughter are enough to make her character warm and likeable. She absolutely steals the show, almost borrowing from Johnny Knoxville’s Bad Grandpa by not being afraid to offend or upset those around them. She’s funny while also managing to embody the 21st century feminist who empowers the younger generation to stand up for themselves. While the subject matter itself is controversial, it in a sense represents the 21st century goal of accepting everyone for exactly who they are, even if they’re not perfect or make mistakes.

As a dramedy, Grandma is funny, heartwarming, and (like its main character) unapologetically frank. Laverne Cox, known for her transgender role in the Netflix original series Orange is the New Black, makes an appearance along with Nat Wolff (from Paper Towns) and Sam Elliott (from The Big Lebowski). With big names and a good message, Grandma was a special film brought to life by stellar performances and heart. It is as much a 21st century independent film as any I have seen before, and I left the theater happy with what I saw. This film gets an 8/10 from me, and I hope that those who do watch it can recognize the message isn’t centered on abortion as much as it is about acceptance, selfworth, and inner strength.