La mia amica Zoe

Throughout this movie I felt there was something missing or wrong with the entire premise or story line.

After some time thinking things over and re-watching the movie, I think I know what it is: It really shouldn't be a comedy.

The subject matter is important and I think it would have been much more effective had the movie been entirely dramatic.

The story of a multi-generational military family - having made sacrifices for the country at great personal cost - should be told with more seriousness.

I do understand the artistic choice to use an imaginary dead friend as a story device. But I think it could have been done well even without the comedy.

Still, the acting was very good. And I'm glad Sonequa Martin-Green got to be lead in a movie that has nothing to do with Star Trek.

It's 2016 Afghanistan. Merit (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Zoe (Natalie Morales) are best friends in the Army. Some years later, Merit is in court-mandated group therapy headed by Dr. Cole (Morgan Freeman). She is talking to her dead friend Zoe. Her grandfather Dale (Ed Harris) has wandered away from home due to his early Alzheimer's.

This is inspired by a true story and probably speaks to a lot of military people's personal experiences. It also has some great actors here. As a story, it needs a destination. It needs a definite goal for Merit. There could have been a couple of possibilities. This could be a road trip where Merit tracks down her grandfather and she has to bring him home. Along the way, the car could break down. They could pick up a military hitchhiker. The movie is a bit aimless. Maybe that fits for someone suffering PTSD.

I had an idea on what the story was about, but it threw a couple curve balls at me. The fight at home is sometimes worse than the fight in the war. We had an epidemic, and I'm happy to hear that it's been finally slowing down a bit since 2019. My heart goes to all those who are effected, no matter at what level. I hope better programs are put into place going forward. We shouldn't be sending them out, just to bring them back and let them suffer alone. We have a duty to them, as they served a duty to all of us. I think that's one thing a lot of us can unite on. Truly a great story with a powerful message. The movie can be a little slow at times, so that's where my 7 comes in, but its still one I'd tell the right people to go and see.

Saw at AMC on 3-5-2025 with Nicole.

Yes it is a movie about veterans but it is not just about that, for me till the first half it was like omg not this same old story again specially I was watching the movie in a film festival but secondly half movie started to reveal more details and it was ooohhh thats different and nice, director made an amazing job you will feel his touches in a lot of things. Big shout out for Natalie Morales amazing acting, I loved every scene she was in. I would have loved if the movie main characters was males just because of the stereotype of men should be strong and control feelings bla bla bla which lead eventually men not revealing there emotions, but director had a fair point of why main characters were women.

Soooo...I went to see this film at AMC's Scream Unseen, which is exclusively for horror flicks. So that was upsetting, this home is absolutely not horror in any way shape or form. Secondly, since it was an early release the director begins the film with telling you about his newest dark comedy. This is assuredly not a dark comedy or even funny at any point. With that out of the way, this is a film about and for veterans and addressing the higher suicide rate of those who have served our country. Of course this is an important topic and I appreciate the directors and writers who made the film. Unfortunately there isn't much here till about 70 minutes into the film. More of a slice of life that happens to have veterans in the film. I would wait to stream this film. Not really worth a romp to the theatre.