Imogene

'GIRL MOST LIKELY': Four Stars (Out of Five)

Kristen Wiig stars in this comedy film directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini (the team behind the Harvey Pekar biography comedy film 'AMERICAN SPLENDOR'). It was written by Michelle Morgan and co-stars Annette Bening, Matt Dillon, Christopher Fitzgerald and Darren Criss. Wiig plays a New York playwright who's fallen on hard times and fakes her suicide in order to try and win her ex-boyfriend back. She instead ends up having to move back home with her mother and little brother. The movie got mostly negative reviews and didn't receive a wide theatrical release but I enjoyed it quite a bit.

The film was originally titled 'Imogene', which is the name of Wiig's character. Imogene was an up and coming New York playwright who's career went nowhere quickly and she ends up losing her job and her boyfriend, Peter (Brian Petsos), at the same time. In an attempt to win Peter back she stages her suicide but is instead ordered to move back in with her mother, Zelda (Bening), and younger brother, Ralph (Fitzgerald), temporarily. Once home she finds her mother is also living with a man claiming to be a secret agent (Dillon), who she's also hooking up with, and a young man named Lee (Criss), who rented out her old room. Things just get more crazy from there as she attempts to get her life back on track.

The film was very nicely directed and the script is clever and smart. I found all the characters to be likable and oddly enjoyable as well as adequately developed. Wiig is a good leading lady and I enjoy her in films like this much more than something like 'BRIDESMAIDS'. Criss and Fitzgerald (who plays a character which seems like it was written for Zach Galifianakis) both stand out in the movie as well and Bening and Dillon are also hilarious in it. The movie is just a really quirky and funny heartfelt film. I'm not sure why it hasn't gotten better recognition but it's definitely one worth seeing.

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This is a film for anyone who has been or knows a struggling artist. It's fantastic and at times a laugh-out-loud funny movie with a charming cast. Kristen Wiig is great and Darren Criss has never looked hotter. Easy to watch and fun and relatable on many levels.

The myth of Thanksgiving, the American-dream dissected, shattered, and taken apart, or is it?

This film is set in two cities. One city is New York City. The other is Ocean City in New Jersey, on the opposite side of the Hudson River.

Lead actress Kristen Wiig plays Imogene. A difficult role to play, because Imogene is not really very nice at all. She is a New York-socialite and is arrogant, demanding, and generally unpleasant. Film opens with her in NY with her rich boyfriend, flat and job.

This self-centred woman has a massive change in circumstances which end up forcing her to return to her family in Ocean City. Thus film opens like 'Hope Floats' (1998). Like Sandra Bullock in that film, Imogene has to return home, having not fulfilled her expectations.

Now socialite Imogene has left glamorous NY and returns to a more working-class Ocean City, and her working-class family. Annette Bening, of 'Ruby Sparks' (2012), plays her mother. An unrecognizable Matt Dillon plays a boyfriend. However, the real stand out performance, is by Christopher Fitzgerald, who plays brother Ralph.

The problems and the disputes in the family are shown realistically, as are the interactions between the members of the family. The scenes between brother and sister capture the relationship perfectly. The pair have grown up together, two kids, brother and sister, still always kids with each other.

The contrast between the two cities of NY, and Ocean City, is shown well. In this, film is similar to 'Working Girl' (1988), 'Silver Linings Playbook' (2012) or 'The Heat' (2013). Nathan Corddry of 'Harry's Law', like in 'The Heat', here too makes a brief appearance. Class-differences and family-differences are portrayed well.

The Theo Paphitis autobiography has a jaw-dropping page one. This film has a similar jaw-dropping twist. There is also a funny twist reminiscent of 'Ruthless People' (1986).

This is a funny film about the family and the American-dream. Rated 12A in the UK, this film is about the family, but is not a film for the whole family. Two people are seen in bed, not sleeping, and thus 12+ would be a good age guide.

While 'Working Girl' portrayed a rise, this film is more about a fall, and a return home. However some great music, book-ends this film, rather like the 'WG' film.

Film contains comedy, drama and some romance. 9/10.

I went to see this movie in Paris last night for a premiere, though it was called Imogene. I was inclined to go not because of the story line but that Kirsten Wiig and Darren Criss were doing a Q & A after the showing. That was worth seeing the movie in itself, but I was very pleased with the film.

It may not be a movie you want to spend $10 on a viewing at the cinema but it is very much worth seeing. The dialogue was well written, the characters you grew to care about very quickly. Though, Kirsten has done a movie where her life has gone out of control and she has to get back on her feet, i.e. Bridesmaids, this did feel different. Christopher Fitzgerald as Ralph did brilliantly and often steals whatever scene he's in. Darren Criss does a great job and proves he doesn't need to be typecast he has much more range than you've seen on Glee.

I highly recommend catching this movie at some point and for those who wait for DVD its worth renting for sure.

Being a fan of Kristin Wiig, I was excited for this movie. Then it was barely marketed, quietly released, poorly reviewed, and flopped. I don't understand.

Kristin Wiig plays Imogene, a neurotic and insecure woman unsuccessfully trying to make it as a writer in NYC. The character is very similar to the one she played in Bridesmaids....which is OK with me. I was more than happy to spend more time with this woman.

After faking a suicide attempt to get her ex boyfriend's attention, Imogene winds up in the hospital. She is subsequently released to the custody of her mother played by Annette Bening who is simply terrific playing a character who reminded me of the Real Housewives of New Jersey.

Imogene returning to the tacky and dysfunctional home in New Jersey where she grew up makes for the comedy here. There are many laugh out loud moments. Living in the house is her mother's boyfriend George Boosh! (Matt Dillon) who claims to work for the CIA, her somewhat mentally challenged but sweet younger brother, and a border played by a very appealing Darren Criss whom Imogene develops an interest in.

There may be a bit too much going on in this film. A subplot of Imogene trying to find her biological father doesn't do too much to move the story along. The ending also goes way over the top. But ultimately, Kristin Wiig makes Imogene a flawed yet lovable character who we root for. I left the theater in a great mood.