Lady Bird - Official Movie Review

Lady Bird starring Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, and Tracy Letts directed by Greta Gerwig is reviewed by Alonso Duralde (TheWrap, Linoleum Knife) and Christy Lemire (www.ChristyLemi...)
Read what other critics had to say: www.rottentoma...
In Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig reveals herself to be a bold new cinematic voice with her directorial debut, excavating both the humor and pathos in the turbulent bond between a mother and her teenage daughter. Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) fights against but is exactly like her wildly loving, deeply opinionated and strong-willed mom (Laurie Metcalf), a nurse working tirelessly to keep her family afloat after Lady Bird's father (Tracy Letts) loses his job. Set in Sacramento, California in 2002, amidst a rapidly shifting American economic landscape, Lady Bird is an affecting look at the relationships that shape us, the beliefs that define us, and the unmatched beauty of a place called home.
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[@El_oh7199]

Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf play the most realistic daughter/mother pair I've seen in a while. Excellent film

[@julianesanches5441]

Loganski Jones where did you watch the movie?

[@El_oh7199]

Juliane Sanches Alamo Drafthouse

[@helpihavenoskin8939]

Agreed, it reminded me a LOT of my mother and I's relationship. Metcalf was spectacular.

[@ziquaftynny9285]

People say the protagonist is a stereotyped teenage hipster and all I can think is; Duh- stereotypes are sterotypes for a reason, it was realistic. It was like people were expecting a saint for a protagonist.

[@meliams5661]

I like the choosing clothes on a act 1 or act 2 of the movie. When Saoirse charather got a little fight with her mom. and drastically change when she see a nice dress :) that's super realistic

[@mehakm5709]

Soairse Ronan is brilliant .

[@lynnturman8157]

She's a brat. I'll never forgive what she did to James McAvoy.

[@shumlina]

I first saw her in Hanna and have been a fangirl ever since :)

[@memorandom7484]

You had me at _Saoirse Ronan._

[@stoporgoreviews8859]

One of the best films of 2017 in my opinion. Hopefully more people will be able to see it.

[@americanpancakelive]

Shit- I cried a few times during this movie- feeling myself to be both Saoirse's character but also her parents.

[@iansmart4158]

Greta Gerwig co-wrote Frances ha and Mistress America.

[@jordanalford2825]

Ian Smart Yeah I was like didn’t she co-write Frances Ha

[@candycane1686]

She co-directed and co-wrote Nights and Weekends.

[@PhantasmagoricSplend]

It was a good movie. The mother/daughter scenes though. I wish there was more personal growth from the main character.

[@HitoKunioka]

I love Greta Gerwig and Saoirse Ronan.

[@matchesmalone2625]

As I guy who lived with a single mother as a kid to near adulthood, this film made me cry. This is what draws me to watching, and hopefully creating visual storytelling. I've never seen a film that makes me want to call my mother and say I'm sorry for being an overbearing teenager, and I love you for putting up with me. By far, one of my favorite movies EVER! I adore this film, and I'm dreading my next viewing, because it'll wreck me, again.

[@akash3464]

Oscar nomination!!!!!!!!!

[@honesty5964]

It hit all generations of women. I thought prior to watching it that I was past watching movies about 17 year olds, but instead I could relate because it reminded me of my struggles then and even now to figure stuff out.

[@nirish25]

Saoirse Ronan was nominated for 2 Oscars. ATTONMENT AND BROOKLYN

[@CasiodorusRex]

Atonement was good, Brooklyn overrated.

[@redmangoose182]

Loved her in Brooklyn, shes the reason I want to see this

[@Seetha-Golden]

I still have to see Sally Hawkins in _Shape of Water_ and Gary Oldman in _The Darkest Hour_ . But wouldn't everyone think it would be so PERFECT, if this year *Saoirse Ronan won Best Actress* and *Timothee Chalamet won Best Actor* ? In some way Lady Bird does mirror CMBYN and visa versa, and they just complete this year celebration of young love! Aaargh ... I am melting.

[@BobSullivanAKABuffy]

I'm someone who had not fallen under the Gerwig spell so I was wondering if this wouldn't work for me. But it did.

[@Tkdlolboy91]

I dont always agree with alanso's critic's, most of the time i disagree, but when he is really positive about a movie im often or not 100% with him.

[@omerfarooq6822]

The real question is which was better: The Big Sick or Lady bird? I'll go with The Big Sick but it's very close

[@army103]

It's a very believable movie, but that's the only good thing I can say about it. It's as interesting as a super-realistic portrayal of an uneventful trip to the grocery store.

[@CasiodorusRex]

When I saw the title of the movie I thought it was a biopic about the life of "Lady Bird" Johnson. After watching a couple of reviews I realized it wasn't, so I went and saw it. In my opinion, it's not a bad movie, but certainly not an award winning movie at all. In fact, I think I'll forget about it in a few days and it shouldn't be in the 9's as What The Flick? gave it. My top 5 movies of 2017 are #5 Get Out #4 Wonder Woman #3 Good Time #2 Thor Ragnorak #1 Maudie. I saw The Killing of a Sacred Deer as well, but that movie missed a little because there was no clarity of how the character was able to accomplish what he did. Maudie was the saddest movie I've seen since The Notebook and Sally Hawkins should win Best Actress for that film.

[@ConnerNielsen6]

“It’s unlike any coming of age movie you’ve ever seen” …unless you forgot that you watched Edge of Seventeen a year ago. I really liked Lady Bird, but it’s eerily similar to that superior film. Gerwig shows a lot of promise here, but it definitely feels like a debut-rough around the production edges.

[@rodrilover17]

I went out and found it I had to travel about an hour or so from my hometown but it was so worth it and I would do it again as many times as I can! It was a lovely amazing movie. And it actually not just lived up to the hype but surpassed it!

[@dgooz]

I think it was Christie Lemire that said this movie seems like the kind of film Gerwig would be in during the beginning of her career. I totally agree and thought the same thing when I watched the trailer. Looks great and nice review.

[@DamjanPlamenac]

Stop drinking from jars. How am I supposed to trust your judgment as a critic if you keep drinking from jars?

[@Shadowman4710]

I really hope for your sake you were being ironic and if you were, my apologies for not picking up on it right away. My sarcasm font is broken.

[@unknownuser3000]

Great review I haven't seen anyone explain this movie well in a review so you did a great job of clearing up the confusion as i havent quite understood the premise of or what makes it great except "is good and to watch it." Your recommendation doesn't fall on deaf ears. Thank you.

[@paesitopaez4302]

I'm hyped. I don't expect it to be better than The Edge of Seventeen, but I do feel like I'd love it.

[@El_oh7199]

Paesito Paez the 2 movies would make a great double feature

[@jphillips8365]

Paesito Paez loved Lady Bird. Would probably rate it 9/10 and Edge of Seventeen a 8/10

[@hebablo]

Better

[@pmata814]

Haven't seen Lady Bird, but Edge of Seventeen really let me down.

[@shr6482]

20th Century Women would go well with those 2 films imo

[@adam-ll1yf]

Saw it last night! Holy shit, it’s perfect. There is not one flaw with this film! The acting is brilliant, the writing and directing are pitch perfect, and the emotion is there from the moment it starts till the second it ends. Everyone should go and see this lovely little film ASAP! 10/10 for me!

[@nicodimus2222]

There is a big flaw. It's not entertaining. I never smiled. I never chuckled. I never cried. Zero emotional engagement. The movie wanders pointlessly for 90 minutes and then it sort of ends.

[@ruthemory2065]

I absolutely loved this film. I think it beautifully told the story of a broken relationship between mother and daughter. And I wouldn’t say that’s it’s like the edge of seventeen, ladybird isn’t as focused on as many teen cliches that the age of seventeen had. Ladybird did include these but they weren’t the focus of the story, the focus of the story wasn’t her ending up with someone, it wasn’t her like moving on or fitting in. The focus was on the daughter and mother, it was on how their relationship grew and changed as Ladybird or Christine changed. Ladybird to say that ladybird didn’t have any memorable moments I would have to respectfully disagree with. I found this movie to be very funny, and by far my favorite moment would be when Ladybird is in the nun’s office and the nun says she should try out for theatre and lady bird says that she’s rather be on the math team and the nun says that she’s not good at math and ladybird replies saying “that we know of.” And another memorable moment is when her mother is talking with her in the car and ladybird throws herself out of the car.

[@yoshibeckham]

I watched this AMAZING movie yesterday (and cried twice), and this review of yours made me tear up again!

[@dylanrichards8414]

this isnt Gerwig's writing or directing debut she co-directed and co-wrote Nights and Weekends,and co-wrote Frances Ha, and Mistress America

[@CoinOpTV]

good flick

[@gloxialist]

Lady Bird isn’t Greta Gerwig’s screenwriting debut. She’s wrote many screenplays like Frances Ha.

[@kidneythief91]

Saw it, loved it, called my mom after.

[@jtatsiue]

I haven't seen it yet but I'm definitely getting the vibe that it just became fashionable to like this film, with reviewers stumbling over themselves feverishly trying to establish their quirky, idiosyncratic, hipster indie flick cred. I'm sure it's a capably executed coming-of-age story that I'll enjoy less than Edge of Seventeen.

[@raymondzrike]

Eh, I personally think Lyndon B Johnson is overrated.

[@film79]

What about his wife?

[@lynnturman8157]

yeah duh...power hungry lugubrious Texan who became POTUS & escalated Viet Nam war...

[@phirozemarolia8221]

Raymond Zrike n

[@JozieLeePro]

Excellent film. Totally enjoyable.

[@JAContes]

Why do people always forget about Stanford when they talk about elite schools? It is on the same level as Yale, Harvard, Princeton and even Oxford and Cambridge in England.

[@nightbender9250]

The movie was AMAZING. It really moved me

[@millsj9383]

Ok give her the Oscar trophy already.

[@jungle.jezebel]

I loved this movie! So many parallels to my own teenage life which was in the late 90's as it seems this movie is set. Soairse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf were fantastic.

[@adagiobreeze8493]

Laurie Metcalf totally deserved the Oscar for this, Alison Janney’s role was too Oscar- baity in I, Tonya

[@campaignresources]

Greta Gerwig's co-directed Nights and Weekends in 2008.

[@elverchimbawe1427]

its good movie that's it, i can think o many other coming of age movies that are better, this one is just overrated but i guess we needed a woman among the nominees for best director, then again i don't even know why it surprises me, we all know the academy awards are a joke

[@helpihavenoskin8939]

Dare I say movie of the year ? This *or* Brawl on Cellblock 99

[@NicolasWaldvogel]

Went to see it with my girlfriend and its indeed a well made, lovely film. But Best Picture material? I don't think so..

[@fivizzano]

I guess Ronan AND Gerwig are THE top Oscar material of the year...amazing work

[@CollinLake]

I’m probably the only one who just doesn’t get the hype, I’m not saying it’s bad far from it but it’s nothing very special I wouldn’t watch it again again ITS NOT A BAD MOVIE it’s just not a great movie everyone says it is

[@Summon256]

Holly shit! I just checked RT and it has 100% from 115 previews! Lol Is it even possible to achieve on that site??...Average scores are tad lower (8.8 critic score to be more precise!), but still impressive nevertheless! Even nearly flawless movies rarely get scores that high on RT!...Question is if movie really THAT good??

[@Generalbas1972]

This is how you get oscar nominations: You make a movie that doesn't make sense for the first 20 min and is SO boring and confusing that you ar almost out of it. Then after those 20 min, you make sure that the movie doesn't go anywhere for the next 30 mins. After those 30 mins. you make sure that the movie is the exact same boring piece of shit as the first 50 mins. That's how you get you movie to be oscar nominated.........This movie is SOOOOOOOOOO boring, i tried wathcing it 3 times and fell alseep all thee times.

[@jonathanschiller3129]

Alonso liked a movie?!?!?!!!!! First time I've seen him actually like something without nitpicking it in the same sentence

[@starr0401]

Just saw it in a second-run theater. It's an honest coming-of-age film, but it was nothing more than that. Not particularly impressed by any of it. I would say 7.2.

[@damosuzuki]

fantastic. i wanted to give this movie a hug. # 2 of the ytd behind florida project.

[@liquidpig]

So is it a prequel to Ladyhawke

[@Wolfen443]

Lady Hawk?, you mean a Teen age story progressing like the Lawrence post apocalyptic series?.

[@Paperbagman555]

I love Greta Gerwig and thought this was a good movie but ultimately vanilla. Plenty of nice, funny, relatable scenes but it never escalated or surprised me. Other than the mother/daughter relationship nothing stands out about this film; seems like a standard coming of age movie to me. Nothing meaty or memorable but still a quality debut. I just don't get the hype surrounding it.

[@tikifreaky5204]

Sounds like the movie/comic Ghost World

[@kimberlyrobinson3992]

I agree. I thought of that, too.

[@El_oh7199]

Not really like Ghost World, is still in high school. Her friends are fellow high schoolers , not middle age record collectors

[@No-Kung-Fu]

Ghost World is x 200 better.

[@nirish25]

Great IRISH actress

[@megamoviez]

Niall T Great actress in general

[@El_oh7199]

Niall T she's been great in everything, especially Brooklyn

[@genericusername1245]

K

[@nessnake123]

the movie is not bad, not good, is just another movie with some nice scenes once in awhile, boring in some parts

[@jacobelis79]

So... Orange County 2: Sacramento? Lol

[@assiduous2011]

Jack Brown Did you mean the Tv show The OC?

[@jacobelis79]

Orange County 2002 starring Colin Hanks and Jack Black. The premise of this movie sounds similar to it. Thought more people would get the joke (not as if it was a good one) but whatever lol

[@jacobmorales323]

Not at all

[@thomassatariano7128]

Why did the priest visit the mother?

[@algernonselderflower7236]

Sacramento, the home of Death Grips, boring? nah.

[@zacharysiple629]

My friend showed me this on Netflix. I thought it was a flawless masterpiece, I adored it! :)

[@lrob4444]

This movie made me want to cry. For buying it on demand.

[@anitaschonken9860]

Mundane ...perfect description!

[@davidzeto2446]

Alonso looks like he applies hairspray to his entire person.

[@assiduous2011]

I’ll say it’s more of a pre-coming of age or ‘about to’ coming of age movie 😬😬😬

[@owiseone1]

Looking forward to this one

[@leobergmiller873]

okay im super excited for this movie it looks really great but theres no way its better than Three Billboards

[@dmc8092]

No way? Really? And who said it was? Their rating system doesn't work that way.

[@chrispmorgan]

You should see both. They’re great in different ways.

[@rodrilover17]

They’re not really comparable. They are both great!

[@leobergmiller873]

Chris Morgan yeah lol im sure, i still havent seen Lady Bird but im very excited for it

[@Wolfen443]

I watched both, and they are both good but Three Billboards has a deeper acting bench and better story (it really moves you).

[@dmc8092]

So looking forward to this.

[@Lee_Forre]

Please change the format of your reviews -- No need to see the trailer twice!!!!

[@backlandlands5793]

Napoleon Dynamite for girls?

[@joechrow8341]

Nothing more pathetic than listening to reviewers COPY one anothers opinions on Movies...They dont have the honesty and balls to have a different opinion because a different opinion is not the COOL/HIP/FAD thing to do...COOL/HIP/FAD thing to do is PRETEND that Lady Bird was a GREAT Movie...This is why it is so HIGHLY reviewed...So refreshing reading/listening to HONEST reviews about how TERRIBLE and BORING this Movie was...You can pick the WORST movie of ALL TIME and if reviewers choose to PRETEND it is GREAT you will see EVERYONE just COPY 1 anothers opinions and turn the HORRIBLE movie into a GREAT movie...So pathetic...This channel is similar to most...No HONESTY...Just goes along with whatever is SOCIALLY COOL at the time...Lady Bird SUCKED

[@itaikahari9395]

This is the one

[@Fintanflaherty]

Is this the quirky one

[@SoulStylistJukeBox]

She's Jonah Hill's real life sister? Sigh.

[@El_oh7199]

SoulStylistJukeBox if you look at her, you can totally see the similarities

[@Sparklejumpropequeen374]

I described her as a female Jonah Hill before I knew this 😂

[@enloveyduvey001]

sneezes *overrated*

[@ChrisR-ne4kn]

Ghost World > Lady Bird

[@alexanderforbes1452]

Of course Greta Gerwig directed this, even Saoirse Ronan's hair looks like her's.

[@inspectionnegross8695]

She's *way too old* to play a teen.

[@bigwin2010]

This is THE MOST overrated movie of 2017. Took my father to see this movie due to the "100%" on Rotten Tomatoes. He's a big film fan. The movie is basically a bunch of cut scenes of a snarky, poor, outcast catholic school virgin who wants to make a name for herself, too naive to realize she's dating a gay guy, and determined to go to a liberal arts east coast school - to heck with her parents finances. Zero memorable moments in this movie. A year from now there is literally NOTHING you will look back upon and say "there was that scene when this happens and I'll always remember it because..." The movie wasn't sad, funny, touching, or profound in anyway. Then I notice A24 studios made the film, just like that garbage film " It Comes At Night. " Now it makes sense. The critics only like it because it's an Indie flick.

[@octopus3372]

"the critics only like it because it's an Indie flick" Then why don't all indie movies get positive reviews?

[@chelseagalloway6913]

I couldn’t agree more. This was underwhelming based on the hype. I’m seriously questioning watching What The Flick’s Opinions in the future.

[@Wolfen443]

Is not their best film project, but it has its moments. The hilarious Post sex scene is worth watching twice.

[@mikex3578]

j3m1f8 "It Comes At Night" kinda was the pitts.

[@enloveyduvey001]

thank you!!!!!!!!!!

[@kimberlyrobinson3992]

No. Too quirky. I'm too cynical and bitter to spend money to watch "quirky" for two hours. Sorry, film. Maybe once you get to Amazon Prime, we'll see.

[@El_oh7199]

Kimberly Robinson it's not quirky at all, in.my opinion. Seriously, the only quirky thing is her self given nickname. Otherwise, everyone is as normal as can be. The situations are relatable. It's really not very Greta Gerwig-y

[@megamoviez]

Kimberly Robinson Enjoy your Transformers movies than dude. Also don't judge a movie before you see it.

[@connor3198]

Probably someone who just likes Marvel or Star Wars

[@jacobmorales323]

Ok hear me out. You sound like an ass hole but I do understand what your saying. But I promise this movie isn’t quirky it’s actually very realistic and grounded. Please watch it

[@chelseagalloway6913]

Save your time - It’s overrated. And no one is all that impressive in the film except the main person’s best friend.

[@Meredith.A]

I'm from the bay area nor /Cal I don't care for the east coasts states I have visited and have family in NH Maine mass I really didn't enjoy myself I felt like the only things to do was bowling, eating fried food and going to the lake (which was fun) but I'm from CA and it was so different I like more faced paced city life.

[@owiseone1]

Looking forward to this one