by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Do you have those family members who take so much more than they could possibly give? They are the ones who are always getting themselves in trouble or at rock bottom and it takes weeks’ worth of energy to overcome the emotional taxation they cause. A more interesting question is, are you the type of person who is always ready to jump in and take care of someone else? The impulse can be so strong; the sense of duty can be even stronger. They might hold guilt over you as the strongest motivator of all. Can you even imagine if they were your child? They are the ones you have a biological connection with and need to nurture, and might even draw that type of response from you no matter how old they get.
Do you now understand the dilemma of the new familial comedy, I’ll Be Right There? That title makes perfect sense, as Wanda (Edie Falco) drops all things in her life to make sure she is taking care of her mother, Grace (Jeannie Berlin), and her adult children, Sarah and Mark (Kayli Carter and Charlie Tahan). This obviously gets in the way of all of Wanda’s desires, with the theme of realizing what drives you and making space for your own desires being the backbone of this film. Wanda is seeing a man (Michael Rapaport) and a woman (Sepideh Moafi) and never gives herself to either of them. They represent a disconnect, with one getting her personality and heart and the other getting her body. There are hanging threads of her excuses-filled ex-husband (Bradley Whitford) and a potential new flame on the horizon (Michael Beach). Wanda’s life is certainly messy, and that is the attractive selling point of Brendan Walsh’s film. Jim Beggarly’s screenplay is overstuffed and scattered, with so many hanging elements to keep track of. Luckily, they all flow together and relate back to the central internal conflict of Wanda’s priorities.
Does Walsh deliver as the director? From a technical standpoint, the film is standard. You are not going to find anything interesting from a camerawork and framing perspective. The visuals are sitcom-like and do nothing to really stand out. But the most important element for a comedy like this is to create an environment that is rich in laughs and emotion. I’ll Be Right There is not a laugh-out-loud type of funny, but it is consistently amusing. Thankfully, there are some solid emotional beats (Falco does much of the heavy lifting), and the pacing is smooth for a film with so much going on — the leaner runtime is a benefit.
As alluded to, where is the rest of the heavy lifting coming from? The cast. Falco is a delight. Walsh worked with her previously on Nurse Jackie, and their collaboration is fruitful. Falco’s ability to put a lot into a single look or stare is impressive. There is a looming frustration and tiredness always present in Falco’s performance, and by the end of the film, that slow burn pays off, allowing her to shine. You also must mention the effortless alluring presence she has, especially when she shares scenes with Moafi, which are almost always quite intimate. Berlin is hilarious as Wanda’s mother. Some of the bigger names in the cast deliver as well, with Rapaport, Whitford, and Beach having some fun in their limited screen time.
Does I’ll Be Right There make the case for comedy’s return to the theaters? It is not the funniest film you are going to see in a theater this year (or even at home if you wait), but there is some solid depth, a great Falco performance, and a relatable concept that will get the audience connected and ready to sit back for about 100 minutes. This is a rock-solid, enjoyable film.
Rating: It Was Just Okay
I’ll Be Right There is currently playing in theaters
You can read more from Shane Conto, and follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd