Lady Bird: Film Review

Lady Bird has received so much hype and awards nominations and I had been wanting to see it for months and months, so naturally I was excited to see it and my expectations were super high. I was concerned that it might not live up to the hype which preceded it, but I didn’t need to bother – it is excellent and I loved it wholeheartedly.

The coming-of-age tale follows Christine ‘Lady Bird’ McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) growing up in Sacramento, California in 2002. She is struggling to figure out who she is and what she wants as she navigates her strict Catholic school and tough mother Marion (Laurie Metcalf). She is best friends with Julie (Beanie Feldstein) and has love interests in Danny (Lucas Hedges) and Kyle (Timothee Chalamet).

It doesn’t sound like it has a great deal of plot but it really doesn’t matter. It all leads to Christine growing up and finding out who she is and I enjoyed watching every minute of it. All of the scenes are wonderful, well-written and so well-observed, so I’m glad Greta Gerwig, in her directorial debut, has received nominations for her directing and screenplay.

The performances are excellent all round – there is no weak link. Ronan is obviously fantastic (she has been winning awards after all) but she rarely gives a bad performance. Metcalf plays such a cold person who struggles to show her daughter love and is always on her case, but her private emotional moments and vulnerability will really hit you in the feels. Bridges also has a moment to shine, Chalamet plays such a douchey, pretentious twat, but I love the actor in everything, and Feldstein is adorable and has plenty to work with as the best friend.

I enjoy these kinds of films so I always expected to love it, I was just concerned that it wouldn’t live up to expectations and I was disappointed at all. It totally lived up to the hype for me and I want to see it again already. Definitely one for the DVD collection.

In select cinemas from Friday 16th February