I'll Be Right There

In wonderfully warm blue-collar drama "I'll Be Right There" middle-aged mum Edie Falco struggles under the weight of constantly running around her NY-state small-town after her mum (Jeannie Berlin) and her two young-adult kids (Kayli Carter & Charlie Tahan) that ex-hubbie Bradley Whitford's no help with. She's also juggling romantic relationships with Michael Rapaport (always great), Sepideh Moafi, and maybe even Michael Beach... it's all a bit much! Thru Falco's terrific performance, Jim Beggarly's pitch-perfect screenplay, & Brendan Walsh's rich direction, it is a gentle triumph - but will probably become a largely undiscovered gem. Discover it - it rocks.

This is a family drama with much humor. IMDb page doesn't specify where it was filmed but in one street scene we see the sign for "Quinn Podiatry" and that is in Pearl River, NY, just near the NY/NJ state line. And, I suppose, in other smaller communities in NJ and NY just upstream from New York city.

The cast contain a number of good, experienced actors and each creates an interesting character. The story revolves around Edie Falco as Wanda. She works as a bookkeeper for several small businesses in her area.

She has a pregnant daughter who is planning her wedding. She has a young adult son who never seems to be on a good track in life. Trouble seems to follow him.

She also has an ex-husband who, with his new family, may not be able to pay half of their daughter's wedding. Plus she is being pursued romantically by two different people, a man and a woman.

In essence the whole story is about Wanda coming to grips with her own life and happiness and it is a good ride.

My wife and I watched it at home, after our usual Saturday evening steak and red wine dinner, streaming on Peacock.

Saw this at the 2024 Annapolis Film Festival. First time attending a film festival.

Appreciated this snippet from the program:

"We go to the movies to be entertained, educated, thrilled, horrified, to laugh or to cry and importantly, enjoy a respite away from our face-paced world"

This new favorite comfort movie of mine. It is incredibly charming and full with love. I really hope this gets a respectable theatrical release so I can show my mom. Really fun experience attending my first ever film festival. Thank you, Annapolis Film Festival.

Also, something cool-I sat in the row directly in front of Carmela Soprano (Edie Falco).

Edie Falco? Star. Charlie Tahan? Star. Jeannie Berlin? C'mon. Everything that you'd want from a heart-warming story-line filled with comedy AND more.

Wanda (Edie Falco) is always there for her needy family. Her mother is diagnosed with leukemia but unlikely to die from it. Her pregnant daughter is getting married, but her ex-husband is withdrawing his half of the money. Her son keeps complaining about her to his therapist who promptly quits on him. Her family keeps calling on her and she keeps answering.

The movie could do something more to drive the drama and narrative. In many ways, Wanda is just moving from one scene to another and they are all essentially the same. She is being burdened with everybody else's problems. It's a little funny but repetitive. This may work better if she is running around all day preparing for the wedding. That would allow the story to have a cohesive plotline. More than anything, this shows Edie's great acting abilities in doing simple work.

Hey folks, I'm adding my voice to the chorus of positive shout outs because this movie is special. I caught it at last year's NBFF and it was a standout. Quirky and funny, leavened with real moments of parental angst and regret. This is a really original piece of filmmaking that's a touching tribute to all those single moms desperately trying to hold a family together. It's about when to hold on and when to let go and how hard it is to do both. Edie Falco really lets it all hang out as Wanda, the mom who gives and gives and gives with no boundaries. You all know someone like this. (My 2nd eldest cousin is soooo like Wanda.) And this movie gives Wanda the room to show how you get to a place like this with her son Mark (Charlie Tahan) and daughter Sarah (Kayli Carter), both "takers" who don't seem to know better, but really do. Mark is especially angst-inducing, especially if you're a parent whose dealt with someone like him. (No spoilers, but I'll let you guess what his issue is.) Matching Edie Falco in the "letting it all hang out" dept. Is Michael Rappaport as Marshall, one of Wanda's admirers who is goofily self-aware and gives the film a honest edge. I could go on about this movie, but suffice to say, this film fits like a well-worn pair of stained sweat pants and will get you right in the feels. Kudos to writer Jim Beggarly, director Brendan Walsh, producer Peter Block, editor Aron Orton, composer James Righton, DP Aaron Medick. Plus costumes, prod design/set decor. Go see it when it finally comes to an art house near you.