Little Sister (2016)

I had next to no expectations from this quiet little black comedy on Netflix, written and directed by Zach Clark. Neither the image attached to it, nor the movie’s premise - a reformed goth and now nun-to-be returns to her hometown on her older brother’s return from deployment to Iraq - called out to me particularly, but I’m really glad I went with it. 

Despite having a conceit that could veer into preachiness and dialogue that could have very easily played as Juno-era quirky for quirk’s sake, I was delighted with how well this movie played out the understated tension between family and allowed conflict to play itself out. The characters are all textured and frustrating in realistic ways, even when the commentary borders on heavy handed. I do appreciate that they seem to mostly know when to let it take a back seat.

The performances really make this movie. Even with the elements that got leaned on a little to heavily at times where they were a little off balance - I had this problem with the drug plot earlier in the movie, but it evened out; sometimes the political commentary felt jagged in its deployment - I was invested in characters and their chemistry and the tenderness with which they were treated, with very few exceptions. Addison Timlin and all-grown-up Ally Sheedy were wonderful, and the relationship between Colleen and Jacob could have sunk the whole movie but Timlin and Keith Poulson really sold it.

Not in spite of but because of its silliness and honesty, Little Sister is a little nugget of sweetness. The disappointments in it become even more prominent when they pop up, with the lack of subtlety and the moments of writing that seem straight from the pen of Diablo Cody, but it's a movie I left feeling glad to have watched.

Rating: 7.5/10 - You can definitely see some growing pains evident in the movie, but it’s a really enjoyable piece of film if you don’t mind enjoying things slowly unfolding, or your comedy on the drier side.