Reviews

‘Gifted’ – Review

gifted 2017

From the opening minutes of Gifted, most of us will be fairly sure how it will end. But for a film that deals in sentiment and predictability, it actually manages to hit almost all the right notes.

Chris Evans is Frank, who plays a foster-parent sort of role to his young niece Mary (Mckenna Grace), who shares the same genius-mathematician traits as her late mother. To Mary’s extreme reluctance, Frank has insisted that she shifts from being home-schooled to attending school, in order to make some friends and begin living life as a ‘normal’ kid. It soon becomes clear, however, particularly to Mary’s bubbly teacher Bonnie (Jenny Slate), that maybe she’d be better off attending a school where her intelligence is challenged. But Frank doesn’t think so – he thinks Mary needs to not exist in a bubble. Enter Mary’s grandmother Evelyn (Lindsay Duncan), who wants to swoop Mary away to a private school, kicking off a custody battle in an effort to do so.

gifted movie review

The entire cast of Gifted strongly elevate the film with their emotional performances. You never really get the sense that anyone is half-heartedly performing. Evans and Grace have an effortless rapport that makes their potential parting all the more tragic, and Octavia Spencer gives her all as Mary and Frank’s lovable neighbour Roberta. As many of us may know, Chris Evans and Jenny Slate struck up a relationship not long after Gifted wrapped, and as a result, their chemistry cuts through the big screen in an ultra-relaxed yet ever-so-slightly sizzling manner.

What also works in Gifted’s favour is its ability to meld a number of differing themes together in a way that doesn’t over-saturate its narrative. Grief, familial estrangement, and the tricky line between allowing a child’s special talents to bloom, while ensuring that their childhood isn’t compromised are all themes that are weaved together satisfyingly. There is a specific hospital scene that fails at hitting its intended mark, but for the most part, Gifted is a pleasant hour and a half-long ride.

Fun Fact:

Gifted (2016) is director Marc Webb’s first original film since 500 Days of Summer (2009).

gifted 2017
Gifted
Story
65
Characters
70
Performances
80
Direction
70
Entertainment Value
70
Reader Rating0 Votes
0
Directed By
Marc Webb
Starring
Chris Evans
Jenny Slate
Lindsay Duncan
Mckenna Grace
Octavia Spencer
71
21 posts

About author
A keen lover of old-school slashers and all movies ultra-twisty, Tina Tsironis is a hyperactive writer excited to critique and unpack any kind of movie within any kind of genre. Deserted Island Movie Collection: Disney's animated films. Best movie snack: Mint Choc-top.
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