Suncoast

7.0/10 (Recommend)

I don't think the synopsis for this film clearly explains what this movie is about to the extent that it could. Part of me thought that it was going to be all about protests and just a surface style relationship between Doris (Nico Parker) and Paul (Woody Harrelson), but it is so much deeper than that.

While the story surrounds the brother's medical condition and another patients medical condition it isn't the focal point. The story is about a girl trying to find her place without upsetting those around her.

Nico Parker did a great job in my opinion as she went from quiet, shy, and awkward to more vocal and courageous about herself and her circumstances. Kristine played by Laura Linney was a lot easier to hate than to like, but you realize the circumstances compounded some of her decisions. The manipulation and guilt she puts on her daughter never sits right especially due to the outcome of the film.

This film is very relatable particularly if you've ever lost someone you love and care about. It gave me a gut punch as I couldn't be with my grandma at the end of her life and so the emotions of that time came back. It goes along with the phrase "say what you need to say now cause there may never be a later time to say it".

I think this film is rated 'R' for its real life portrayal of underage drinking, clubbing, drugs, and sexual innuendos. It doesn't go into the most horrendous portrayal of those acts, but because it's shown, the parental rating is higher. If you can get past that and understand that it happens in real life then this film is definitely worth watching.

That's all for now. Thank you for taking the time to read my review. Until next time.... Enjoy the show!

As "Suncoast" (2024 release; 109 min.) opens, we are in "Clearwater, Florida", and highschooler Doris and her mom are transferring Doris' brother into a hospice facility called Suncoast, by happenstance the very same one where the Terri Schiavo drama is playing out. Doris is stressed out by her hard-charging mom and the overall situation... At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: this is the directing debut of actress Laura Chinn, who in essence is bring her own story to the screen. Laura Linney plays the mom who is, let's just say, not a very likeable character. Woody Harrelson plays Paul, an well-meaning eccentric who befriends Doris. British actress Nico Parker ("The Last of US") plays Doris. The film is not bad, but suffers from a rather uneven script, going on a dime from a "Mean Girls" reminding scene into dealing with life-ending situations. I had forgotten all about the Terri Schiavo situation, which made national headlines in the early 00s.

"Suncoast" premiered a few weeks ago at the Sundance film festival, and is now streaming on Hulu, where I caught it a few evenings ago. If you are in the mood for a coming-of-age while also looking at how to deal with loss, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

3 out of 5 stars.

Suncoast is a fair coming of age drama film that gives great performances with the cast ensemble.

A tough story about a teenage girl trying to be a normal teen in high school. While struggling with grief with her brother being terminally ill. And her controlling mother struggling with losing him.

It is a tough story. While Nico Parker did a great job. Same with Woody Harrelson. The film can be emotional. It is a strong drama with her growing up. But missing out as a teen. Thats also the one thing the film struggles is missing out on that direction on what happened to her and her friends. The script felt undeveloped.

I wish first-time director and writer Laura Chinn could have taken greater risks with this 2024 coming-of-age drama because it felt heartfelt yet fairly predictable. It's a highly personal story set in 2005 based on Chinn's own adolescent experience of losing her teenage brother to cancer. Her fictional stand-in is Doris, a withdrawn and resentful teen constantly reprimanded by her emotionally exhausting mother Christine, who decides to move her comatose son to hospice care as he slowly succumbs to brain cancer. It turns out to be the same hospice facility where Terry Schiavo is under care, and right-to-life protestors surround the building under the scrutiny of the media. Laura Linney plays Christine as almost an older version of her controlling character in the memorable "You Can Count on Me", but she's more fearless here in her monomaniacal devotion to her son. Still, it's Nico Parker who carries the film as Doris nicely conveying both preternatural maturity and gawky angst as a social outcast looking to fit in with her new friends. Woody Harrelson plays a protestor who bonds with Doris, but the Schiavo parallels are largely unexamined and consequently Harrelson is used more as an incidental father figure.

I wasn't enthusiastic with the entire story, yet this still was a very good movie. Nico Parker is a gifted and beautiful young actress, and her scenes with Woody Harrelson were endearing.

The crux of this film involves Doris' mission to be independent and lead a normal life. This plan is sidelined as Doris is forced to spend overnights at the Suncoast hospice facility, where her cancer-stricken brother is on his deathbed. She has to decide whether to enjoy her teen years (i.e. Going to prom or clubbing with her preppy friend group) or spend time with her mother and brother. Seeing Doris assert her independence during this family tragedy was what made this movie worthwhile.

There were some fluff high school class/party scenes throughout the movie that didn't resonate with me. I also think having more focus on Paul's personal struggle was necessary. But I ultimately smiled right before the final credits rolled.