Ricki And The Flash
Meryl rocks out...
The prevailing wisdom from Hollywood, movie-goers and the lips of God is that Meryl Streep can effortlessly infuse herself with any character, no matter how far-flung, and bring them to flickering life. Streep’s never been a guitar-slinging, middle-aged rocker before, and that’s essentially why this movie exists. Spoiler alert: she’s great at that, too.
Ricki Rendazzo (Streep) is an ageing rock star now slumming it at a grocery store day job in California, keeping her feeble hopes alive by playing a regular gig at a local club with her band, The Flash. A charismatic Rick Springfield is her guitarist/potential love interest, although she’s never been able to commit to him, or anybody else. Life grinds on until Ricki gets a call from her ex-husband, Pete (Kevin Kline), who tells her that her daughter, Julie (Mamie Gummer, Streep’s real-life daughter), is suffering a breakdown after being left by her cheating husband. The wayward rocker heads to Indiana – ground zero for Midwestern squares – to save her family. And, you know, herself.
If you’re wondering where the comedy comes in, it’s the culture clash stuff. Director Demme’s light touch thankfully smooths out screenwriter Diablo Cody’s usual excesses, leaving you free to enjoy the film with a minimal gnashing of teeth. Yet, interestingly, Ricki And The Flash’s chewiest pleasures come not from the serio-comic narrative or the expected crying/cheering finale, but from the genuinely excellent musical performances by Streep and her band. Whether tossing out familiar old chestnuts (‘American Girl’), new standards (Lady Gaga’s ‘Bad Romance’) or original songs penned for the film, Flash ultimately serves as a frequently enthralling concert film bogged down here and there by tear-jerky family drama. OK, so it isn’t the best thing any of the principals have ever done, but it’s a sweet, melancholy little film that’s the perfect antidote for a summer full of bulging blockbusters. Ken McIntyre THE VERDICT Fantastic music from Meryl Streep’s rock band (!) and a likeable cast highlight this lightweight dramedy from Jonathan Demme and a refreshingly restrained Diablo Cody. › Certificate 12A Director Jonathan Demme Starring Meryl Streep, Rick Springfield, Rick Rosas, Joe Vital Screenplay Diablo Cody Distributor Sony Running time 101 mins