Movie Review: Laggies

Do you ever feel disembodied, boundless, like you are spinning helplessly through space? Of course you have, we all have. That is what is at the center at Laggies. It is a young woman hitting a quarter-life crisis, facing the dawning realization of adulthood and the impending responsibilities that comes with it. It is not a great movie, nor does it have any aspirations to be. Laggies seems to be a movie that has a lot in common with its protagonist, it does not aspire to be anything more than it is at this time, yet it faces expectations from the viewing public that it is not yet ready for. You could think it is a touch clever in that regard, or it could just be happy coincidence.



Laggies centers on Megan (Keira Knightley), a Seattleite woman with a counseling degree but no apparent drive to move forward with a career. She seems somewhat content to spend time spinning a sign for her father's tax business, while he dotes on his little princess. The limited time we see her mother, we see counterpoint, with her wondering when her daughter will get her life together. Now, Megan is not blind to the signs, the are flashing neon bright as she sees her friends getting married and having children. Then everything is dropped on her doorstep when her longtime boyfriend proposes. All of this “growing up” terrifies Megan and her reaction is to run away.

This is where the movie takes a slightly unbelievable turn into its gimmick. As Megan runs, she stumbles across Annika (Chloe Grace Moretz), a sixteen-year old looking to score some beer for her and her friends. Megan obliges and then inexplicably hangs out with them for awhile. Then, she sees an opportunity to get away from the crushing requirements her real life brings. She moves in with the teenager as a way to get away. Of course, it doesn't take long for Annika's single dad, Craig (Sam Rockwell), to take notice and question the situation.

Yes, it all does sound a little odd. Still, it is not out of the realm of possibility for people to feel like this and this movie explores it with a ridiculous set up. Sady, the movie never seems to be as good as the idea of a twenty-something sleeping over with a teenager and her dad to escape making life decisions is. Everything just sort of mopes along until it ends. That idea is wrapped around some generic rom-com type stuff, just modify the meet-cute and you have this little indie thing.

Laggies is not a bad movie, it is just one that feels incomplete. It appears to be meant to be, but I was hoping for something a little bit more. The acting is solid, I really had no problem with that, it is just the way everything plays out, it is all right down the middle, a little drama, a little humor, all wrapped in a movie that seems pretty flavorless. I am glad I saw it, but doubt I will ever feel the need to revisit it.

Mildly Recommended.