I’LL BE RIGHT THERE – A Review by Jenn Rohm
The world is definitely different from when I was growing up. The goal used to be to have what society deemed to be the perfect family. These days, TV and movies show the moments that show life’s perfections and imperfections. Available for on-demand viewing, I’ll Be Right There is a slice-of-life of the current family dynamic.
Wanda (Edie Falco) is a mother of two grown children. Sarah (Kaylie Carter) is planning her dream wedding while eight months pregnant, and Mark (Charlie Tahan) is lying in therapy and directionless. Wanda is also a part-time caregiver for her mother, Grace (Jeannie Berlin). Her ex-husband and father of her children, Henry (Bradley Whitford) is financially struggling and more focused on his second family. In the backseat of Wanda’s life, she is in a relationship with Marshall (Michael Rapaport), who is very much in love with her and cheating on him with Sophie (Sephideh Moafi) who doesn’t want to introduce Wanda to anyone else in her life.
The cast is what makes this movie. Falco has this ability to portray characters that are imperfect in a way that others emulate. Even as someone who does not have children, I experienced maternal feelings toward the two grown children. The familial bond between the immediate family is strong, the divorced parents have an acceptance of each other that does not create additional drama. Two of my favorite moments involve the three generations of females getting ice cream. The conversation is natural and flows. It isn’t so much what they say as how they say it. There are also a few hidden joys. Fred Grandy, known for his part as Gopher on The Love Boat, is in the part as Grace’s doctor, and Geoffrey Owens, from The Cosby Show, is the son’s therapist.
This is an enjoyable option when you have the time to sit down, relax, and take a moment to escape.
Director: Brendan Walsh
Cast: Edie Falco, Jeannie Berlin, Bradley Whitford, Kayli Carter, Charlie Tahan, Michael Rapaport, Sepideh Moafi, Michael Beach, Jack Mulhern, Paul Schulze
Selig Rating: 3.5 stars
Runtime: 1h 37m
On-Demand Release: September 27, 2024
Genre: Comedy
Trailer: I’ll Be Right There official trailer
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.
4 Stars – Good movie/show
3 Stars – OK movie/show
2 Stars – Well, there was nothing else…
1 Star – Total waste of time.
