Austin Found (2017)

As Good As It Gets

Absolutely the worst movie.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

I had no idea what to expect, and almost tuned out in the first 15 minutes but so glad I did not. It really takes off and it is a fun ride. I really think that there should be more movies like this in the world. It's different, fun and really well directed. Skeet Ulrich too!

Linda Cardellini plays Leanne a scheming pageant mom who wants fame and money. She enters her 11 year old daughter Patty to various beauty pageants but her daughter has not time with the focus on people's outward appearance.Leanne hatches a plan with her former high school boyfriend, Billy (Skeet Ulrich) to safely kidnap Patty and hopes the resultant publicity will lead to media appearances and book deals.Billy is hoping that this will bring him and Leanne together but he gets jealous to see Leanne and her husband, Donald on television playing the perfect couple, the husband is unaware of Leanne's conniving.A local news reporter who was a victim of Leanne's bullying at school is suspicious of the story and follows Leanne meeting up with Billy. Meanwhile Patty bonds with Billy's simple friend JT (Craig Robinson) who becomes protective of Patty.The film is stuck as to whether it is a dumb comedy, a biteless satire or a drama. Only JT and Patty generate some warmth, empathy and a moral outlook.

I watched this movie thinking it would be a comedy; a dark comedy at the least. While it had funny parts, it was more of a drama. I started off watching this movie while cleaning my kitchen, but it drew me in to the point that I sat down on the couch and watched the whole movie. I was entertained. It was well written with the director did a great job conveying a message. There are multiple messages in the movie and it's a revealing moment in particular that makes this movie stand out. I enjoyed it and I'm glad I didn't do my dishes till later.

I chose this show thinking it would be one of those "don't think too hard about it", silly comedies, especially with the cast (Linda Cardellini from Another Period, Kristin Schaall from Last Man on Earth, Craig Robinson from The Office, Make a Porno, anyway - you get the idea).Yet, I was pleasantly surprised. While still having it's funny moments, the story was actually pretty unique and did have a deeper message. At the end, it did leave you thinking...