There are some things to like about this movie, and some things to not like about it.
Let's start with what not to like about it. I suppose that you could take any one aspect of this girl's life (the main character) and say okay. But let's see -- she and her mother are homeless due to abuse, her mother is an alcoholic, her mother loses her job, her dog has a major tumor that may or may not be cancerous, and her mother gets killed in a car accident. Meanwhile, the girl is teaching an ESL class, volunteering in a nursing home, planning the school variety show, trying to get into Carnegie-Mellon...and works. It's like the old cliche of throwing in everything including the kitchen sink. Too much on the plate to make it seem remotely believable.
But if you can get past the excess, there is a good and ultimately uplifting story here. First, the girl's friends rallying around her. Second, an anonymous savior (in terms of finance...although rather unbelievable, too). And the inner strength some people have.
There's also some very good acting here. Aulii Cravalho plays Amber, the teen lead, and she is fantastic here. This young lady has a future! Rhenzy Feliz, who plays her best friend , shows promise. You'll remember Judy Reyes from "Scrubs". Justina Machado plays Amber's mother; I've seen her in a couple of things, and she is a good actress. It seemed like an odd choice of roles for Fred Armisen to take as a teacher here; he's okay. And the big surprise is Carol Burnett as the nursing home resident.
Let me put it this way. It firmly held my attention, despite its excesses.
Let's start with what not to like about it. I suppose that you could take any one aspect of this girl's life (the main character) and say okay. But let's see -- she and her mother are homeless due to abuse, her mother is an alcoholic, her mother loses her job, her dog has a major tumor that may or may not be cancerous, and her mother gets killed in a car accident. Meanwhile, the girl is teaching an ESL class, volunteering in a nursing home, planning the school variety show, trying to get into Carnegie-Mellon...and works. It's like the old cliche of throwing in everything including the kitchen sink. Too much on the plate to make it seem remotely believable.
But if you can get past the excess, there is a good and ultimately uplifting story here. First, the girl's friends rallying around her. Second, an anonymous savior (in terms of finance...although rather unbelievable, too). And the inner strength some people have.
There's also some very good acting here. Aulii Cravalho plays Amber, the teen lead, and she is fantastic here. This young lady has a future! Rhenzy Feliz, who plays her best friend , shows promise. You'll remember Judy Reyes from "Scrubs". Justina Machado plays Amber's mother; I've seen her in a couple of things, and she is a good actress. It seemed like an odd choice of roles for Fred Armisen to take as a teacher here; he's okay. And the big surprise is Carol Burnett as the nursing home resident.
Let me put it this way. It firmly held my attention, despite its excesses.