They say the older the wiser, but if you look at Elle(Lily Tomlin), you might have some doubt. She no longer has any contact with her daughter, just broke up with her girlfriend and only has enough money to take care of her basic needs. She once was a successful writer, but hasn’t published anything in ages. To her surprise her granddaughter Sage (Julia Garner) suddenly shows up at her doorstep, asking her if she can borrow some money from her. After talking to her she finds out she needs the money to have an abortion, for which she has an appointment later that day. Grandma Elle might not have the money, but she decides to pay a couple of people a visit to make sure she gets the necessary amount.
Lily Tomlin has been acting for a long time and that’s clear as she plays Elle with so much ease. Her character is a no nonsense lady who doesn’t give up and knows how to handle herself. Whether that’s in a situation where Sage’s boyfriend disrespects her or talking to a former lover. As the movie progresses you get to know more about Elle and the deepening of her character is what makes this movie so fascinating.
Grandma is also a film which, despite its serious subject matter, regularly makes jokes which connect without them feeling forced. The dialog is sharp, the actors all put in great performances making this a joy to watch. It’s a small movie with a lot of heart which deals with broken relationships and unsolved issues. It shows how one event can impact them all both in good and bad ways. Even though my expectation were extremely low in advance I was very pleasantly surprised.
