Review: ‘Lymelife’

Melissa:

The Culkins have proven that they are an acting family once again!   With two whole Culkins starring in the new release Lymelife,   they prove that more than the Baldwin brothers can dominate the acting scene.

The story follows Scott (Rory Culkin), a 15 year old boy in love with his best friend Adrianna (Emma Roberts). Scott’s parents Mickey and Brenda (Alec Baldwin and Jill Hennessey) are in a loveless, dysfunctional marriage. Meanwhile Adrianna’s father (Timothy Hutton) has gone mad with Lyme disease and her mother (Cynthia Nixon) is having an affair with Scott’s father. Scott and Adrianna are forced to cope with their surrounding worlds while being drawn to each other.

The thing that I liked most about this movie is how realistic it was. No one was really made out to be the bad guy, they just all dealt with the cards that life handed them. It was awkward and rough, but real.

Rory Culkin shows some impressive acting chops as the awkward teen who doesn’t really fit in. He’s picked on, ridiculed and in love with a girl completely out of his league. This movie played well to my heartstrings since I was one of those kids that people threw paper wads at in high school. I think it’s safe to say that most of us weren’t the coolest of kids, so the underdog approach is always a good route to take. Mix that in with a dysfunctional home life and you are playing to most of society! Rory Culkin has an awkward charm about him that makes him a great lead character! I wanted to jump into the screen and make him my BFF (Best Friend Forever)! Either that or at least give him a hug!

Emma Roberts was fantastic as a young girl trying to find her own sexuality while her mother slept around. Meanwhile, Rory Culkin did a fantastic job as the kid trying to rise above feeling weak, and learning how to stand up for himself. It really is a coming of age story, and I was wildly impressed by it!

The story addresses some hard hitting issues, such as adultery and divorce. Mix that in with being the kid that everyone picks on in school, and you have a fantastic story!

‘Lymelife’ opens today in Saint Louis at the Plaza Frontenac Cinema.

[Overall: 4 out of 5 stars]