Movie Review: Gifted (2017)

Actors: Chris Evans,  McKenna Grace, Octavia Spencer, Jenny Slate, Lindsay Duncan
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Family Drama
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
Run Time: 100 minutes


My Review: I don't think I've ever reviewed a movie on my blog but there's a first time for everything.

And I reaaaally loved this movie.

Gifted is a touching story about family (in all its many, complicated forms), loss, forgiveness and helping children reach their potential in the various aspects of their lives. It's the story about a young girl named Mary whose uncle is dedicated to raising her to be a normal child.  But Mary isn't normal.  She's a math prodigy whose family has more than their fair share of baggage.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie but picked it up at the library because, let's be honest, Chris Evans and Octavia Spencer are in a movie together. Did I mention Chris Evans?  But I digress ... I knew very little about this movie before popping it in my DVD player but was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I became engaged in the lives of Frank and Mary. 

This film has got a lot of heart, a touch of humour and, like I mentioned, a truly stellar cast. We have Chris 'Captain America' Evans as Frank Adler, the uncle who is trying to do his best to raise his young and brilliant niece so that she leads a normal life. I enjoyed seeing a new, tender side to Evans and I liked that he got to exercise his acting chops more than his biceps in this movie. 

Then you have Oscar winner Octavia Spencer who is always captivating and could play a potted palm that would leave me slack jawed in awe of her. The only person in this film who can hold a candle to Ms Spencer may be young McKenna Grace who plays Mary Adler, the 7-year-old child at the heart of the movie. Wow, can this girl act. Grace is as talented as her eye lashes are long. Her portrayal of the precocious, brilliant young girl is wonderfully natural, touching and believable. She vacillates between childish innocence, a spunky attitude (and a wee case of potty mouth) and shows viewers Mary's extraordinary brilliance which is well beyond her years. The deep connection between Evans and Grace comes through to the audience and I recommend that viewers keep some Kleenex handy.  

The cast of characters also had a complexity to them that I wasn't expecting. This is a complicated family situation filled with emotion, power struggles and grief. You'll feel for Frank as he struggles to figure out what is best for Mary in the wake of family upheaval that threatens to damage the bond between them. 

Overall, this is a wonderful little movie that is endearing, poignant and shows the complexities of family. You will quickly become wrapped up in the lives of Frank, Mary and even Fred, their one-eyed cat. I highly recommend this movie.