Suze

Lots to like here. Suze deals with issues of divorce, mental health, female menopause, child seperation and mid life crises. That may seem like a lot to get through, but Suze tip toes through these minefields quite deftly with good writing and characterisation.

The production values are good enough, the acting is totally believable and the script, story and plot are very pleasing.

So why give it only 6? Well, whilst the movie was pleasant and whimsical, at times I wanted a little more comedy in the comedic moments. Maybe that was choice between script, director and actor. Also the 'make out' scene was a touch clumsy.

That being said, I would still recommend.

Suze is a successful professional woman, divorced, feeling possessive of their only child, daughter Brooke. She has been pressuring Brooke to drop her boyfriend, ne'er do well musician Gage, who is unable to finish high school. Suze is planning on Brooke to attend a local university while staying at home, and is shocked when Brooke heads off to McGill, a 6-hour drive away. Brooke proceeds to break up with Gage by text message, then ghosts both of them.

After a suicide attempt, Gage ends up under the care of Suze, whose dislike grows into a bonding experience, as both miss Brooke, and both turn out to be otherwise lonely people. That part of the plot has a parallel with the teacher-student duo in The Holdovers.

There is smart writing in the events and vignettes that flesh out the characters, with the theme that life happens, and you just have to deal with it.

I was prepared not to like this movie, and almost didn't bother watching it at all. It kind of looked like it would be one of those throwaways, too dumb to take seriously, a waste of time.

Boy, was I was wrong. I absolutely loved it. The acting by the three leads was great, exceptional really, and everybody else was believable and seemed real. The story was very good - interesting, funny, and charming. Whoever put this together really has something going for them, I liked everything about it. I couldn't find a single thing wrong with it, and I usually find something. The most pleasant surprise I can remember watching a movie.

This was so freaking adorable. Like a cuddly warm hug, it made me laugh so hard at times, the script is so fun and fresh, but it also made me cry a lot because damn I've been there, I suffer from depression and I felt like Gage before and Charlie's acting threw me off that water tower, so damn good, so raw, I felt it all, damn the boy can act and damn the boy can SING, literal chills, he manages to portray this character in a way that's so beautiful to see, so real. And how sweet is the relationship between the two of them, they needed each other and they didn't even know it, some connections are just the magic we need, the little push we need when we're in the depth of darkness, that kind of mutual understanding and love that makes you want to keep going. So special. I want that. Sweet sweet. Loved it. It's what movies should do.

I had no idea what to expect from this Canadian indie but this movie ended up being exctly what I needed on a cold rainy night. Suze and Gage left me feeling hopeful about the world and their performances (by the amazing Charlie Gillespie and Michaela Watkins) were quite charming! The daughter reminded me way too much of my own (lol!)

I laughed, I teared up, and I actually look forward to watching it again. I find there aren't that many films about kindness out there and I think we need more of that.

So nice to see Michaela in a leading role as well. I always enjoy seeing her in shows but didn't know her name but I'll never forget it now.

If you want to have your heart warmed, check this out. It's such a sweet lil' love story!