There are three films that I want to see at the Broadway this week (and another opening next week). Last night I went there fully intending to see the documentary Meru, which was at the top of my list, but it was completely sold out because Jimmy Chin, one of the co-directors, was giving a Q&A after the screening. I quickly defaulted to Mistress America, the second film on my list. It is absolutely hilarious! It is a madcap screwball comedy where eccentric characters find themselves in crazy situations with lots of fast paced dialogue. I laughed and laughed! Tracy (Lola Kirke) is a lonely college freshman who is finding her first semester to be a disappointment, especially when she is rejected by the literary magazine. Her mother suggests that she call her soon-to-be stepsister, Brooke (Greta Gerwig), and she immediately finds herself in Brooke's orbit. Tracy is enchanted by the free-spirited and flamboyant Brooke but eventually realizes that she is full of plans and ideas which never come to fruition, such as running a restaurant/hair salon. Tracy writes a short story about Brooke's life (titled Mistress America after a superhero character created by Brooke), which is finally accepted by the literary magazine, but it causes a rift in their relationship. Gerwig gives a fantastic performance, playing Brooke with a frenetic energy that is fun to watch. The film is full of witty dialogue, giving Gerwig, who co-wrote the screenplay, the opportunity to display her almost perfect comedic timing (my favorite line is, "He's one of those people that I hate, except that I'm in love with him.") The supporting characters are also a lot of fun, especially Mamie-Claire (Heather Lind), Brooke's arch-nemesis and former best friend who stole one of her ideas (and her fiance). This is the perfect film for a fun night out with friends and I really enjoyed it.
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