FLOWER

 

MARCH 23, 2018 -- Zoey Deutch is making her way up the star list having appeared with James Franco in "Why Him" and "The Disaster Artist" as well as Robert DeNiro in "Dirty Grandpa". She has two upcoming films, one with Johnny Depp - "Richard Says Goodbye" - and the other with Lucu Lui - "Set It up". All comedies.

 

This time Max Winkler (Henry's son) cast her as rebellious teen Erica who has found a way to make money, with her girlfriends Kala (Dylan Gelula) and Claudine (Maya Eshet), by recording herself with older men and blackmailing them.

 

She lives with her mom (Kathryn Hahn) and her new beau (Tim Heidecker), both of whom pretty much let her continue her rebellious ways. But things get interesting when his son Luke (Joey Morgan) is released from the mental institution and comes to live with them.

Luke and Erica are at opposite ends of the spectrum as he is introverted, obese and lacking self confidence. He was committed to the institution for acusing a man sexual misconduct, but whose accusations were unproven.

 

Erica meanwhile, gets an infatuation with an older man she sees at the bowling alley withe her girlfriends. The man Will (Adam Scott) is oblivious to her and her friends and seems content to just bowl and remain by himself. But things change when it turns out he is the man whom Luke accused of the sexual misconduct.

 

Erica, Kala, Claudine and Luke set out to frame him just like she has done with other men in the town. But this time it isn't so easy and she isn't quite sure if Luke can hold up under pressure as things start getting very complicated.

 

Deutch is perfectly cast as the social rebel and pretty much owns the film. Morgan's Luke character should have been more define, we really needed to know more about him than Winkler got out. Scott's character also need more definition as we wondered what actually happened and if he was a maniacal offender. The other characters offer little more than background.

 

Fans of Deutch will enjoy this facet of her in this relatively dark comedy that has undertones for current events.

 

"Flower" is a watchable teen angst comedy with serious nuances that young adults will find amusing enough. Zoey Deutch owns the film and shows her steady growth in talent   -- GRADE C --   GEOFF BURTON

 

GEOFF BURTON

 

 

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