Lady Bird (2017)

You slipped up, Amanda Robinson4. 😁

@Raymond Walker5... That’s just your take. And hey, I totally respect that!
But for me, it was the exact opposite, even though we watched the same movie.

It’s just one of those movies with specific themes. I think the only thing people argue about is why it even landed an Oscar Wilde nomination in the first place. Otherwise, most folks wouldn't have even heard of it or bothered watching. Honestly, probably not even me (at least not that quickly). I don't think it’s some groundbreaking masterpiece, but it's definitely more than just a "solid" flick.

I actually found it pretty engaging! I could really connect with the characters thanks to the acting—well, okay, maybe that one scene where the redhead goes to hide behind the cafe because he's too chicken to come out of the closet felt a bit off... but still! The story is charming, easy to follow, and hits all those classic coming-of-age teenage struggles. It handles that stuff with a nice dose of humor and feels like a complete, well-rounded package.

So, you've got the whole "decisions before graduation" vibe, the desperate urge to fit in with the crowd and find romance, the typical fights with parents... it even touches on attending a private Catholic school, not as a direct critique, but more as part of that teen rebellion against the environment they're trying to escape from.

And that move to New York City? It shows her struggling to find her footing in a new place. She eventually finds some peace in a church she stumbles into after sobering up from a hospital visit while wandering the streets during a mass. After that, she decides to call her parents, which kind of proves she realized things weren't actually that bad back in Sacramento.

I honestly don't see what's wrong with the content here, especially since the movie lays everything out without making it overly complicated. Her character is layered, too—you see it in her awkward attempts at socializing and how she tries to hang with the "cool girls," lying to them just so they won't look down on her for not coming from a wealthy family.

And look, the story opens up plenty of issues that might resonate with you, or maybe they won't. Maybe I'm just closer to it generationally since it hasn't even been ten years since I graduated high school and dealt with almost identical stuff. But there isn't a single technical aspect of the film worth debating—not the script, the directing, the editing, or the cinematography. If there were real flaws, you'd see it in the 99% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where professional critics usually jump all over anything that's off.

At its heart, it's just a personal story told in a natural, unpretentious, and very human way. It doesn't feel like it's checking boxes for political correctness—actually, there's even a scene where the lead girl shouts during an anti-abortion lecture that it would've been better if her mother had just had an abortion so we didn't have to listen to this nonsense 😬! It's not trying to be something it isn't.

Now, I doubt this will change your mind, but just let some viewers enjoy it for what it is: a genuinely good, down-to-earth movie that people can watch, enjoy, and walk away feeling like they got something good out of it.

Joshua Smith5 said:You slipped up, Amanda Robinson4. 😁

Hey, you live and learn... 😬

She’s totally relatable. Just a normal girl—blunt, a bit clumsy, which honestly feels pretty refreshing for once. That whole dynamic with her mom in Sacramento is wild, though; they’re both just suffocating her. Then there’s the dad—he’s basically a ghost, but he might actually be the most crucial piece of the puzzle here.
And please, what kind of Catholic school exists without some level of predatory behavior? 🙂

This movie... paired with a cloudy Sunday afternoon, some heat lightning, and distant thunder, it’s just perfect... the characters are so deeply layered... honestly, they can drive you absolutely insane sometimes... usually, her husband is sitting right there, acting as this heavy, looming shadow 😁 of her life, yet their dynamic is portrayed so brilliantly... there's a subtle thread of humor woven throughout... it's just a grounded, honest family story that anyone could relate to... or at least know someone who does... refreshing, engaging, and the acting is top-tier... 8/10
edit. After the credits rolled, I actually felt a sense of regret that it was over... things are about to get pretty chaotic at NYU 😁