Movie Review: St. Vincent

In St. Vincent Bill Murray plays the title role of Vincent, a grumpy veteran with financial issues who spends his days with his cat and a Russian stripper. After a young boy and his recently single mother move next door, Vincent is pushed into helping care for the child after school each day. As a viewer, you can’t help but know what is coming as Vincent and the young boy grow close and Vincent slowly softens. The scenes between the boy, played by newcomer Jaeden Lieberher, and Vincent are still wonderful to watch since the actors are so perfect in their roles.

The film has a little of everything though; humor, drama, suspense. However, as the credits rolled, I felt there were a few too many unresolved plot points, that I found myself a little frustrated after I had enjoyed much of the film. 

One aspect I especially enjoyed was seeing Melissa McCarthy, who plays the young boy's mother, in a more serious role. While long-time fans of her have seen her more “normal” performances (such as Sookie on Gilmore Girls), her rise to big-screen stardom has primarily emphasized loud, goofy characters. To see her in a more mellow, mature role shows that she does have more diversity than some give her credit for.  

Similarly, it was also enjoyable seeing Naomi Watts, who plays the Russian stripper, taking on a more humorous role.

The film also features small roles from Chris O’ Dowd and Terrance Howard. For fans of Bill Murray, the film perfectly displays what Bill Murray is great at. His acting is showcased in some unexpected scenes as we learn about Vincent’s wife and see Vincent spending time in the hospital. Ultimately, while the complete film may leave a bit to desire, St. Vincent is a story that will bring a smile to your face.