Review: Frances Ha

Release Date: May 17, 2013 (limited)
Running Time: 85 minutes

Starring: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner, Adam Driver, Michael Zegen
Who to see it with: Your best friend, or watchers of HBO's Girls

Lee:

The title character of the black-and-white Frances Ha is a mid-twenties woman child who can barely pay her rent while working as a dancer. Frances has a fun, goofy personality, but both the viewer and the other characters quickly realize that a little Frances goes a long way. The story can seem somewhat aimless, following Frances as she drifts between apartments and opportunities, but the one constant element of the story is her somewhat tumultuous relationship with best friend Sophie. Their interaction provides some of the movie's best dialogue, and the ups and downs of their friendship are relatable. Frances's social awkwardness and lack of direction reminded me of Hannah from Girls, only more endearing and less grating. Girls watchers will recognize Adam Driver, playing a more "normal" character compared to the show's strange Adam. The ending is appropriate, but the abrupt shift in the story's trajectory felt like a cheat.

Rent it.