Don’t Talk to Irene
(Canada, 82 min.)
Written and directed by Pat Mills
Starring: Michelle McLeod, Bruce Gray, Anastasia Phillips,
Scott Thompson, Geena Davis
 |
| Michelle McLeod stars in Don't Talk to Irene |
Remember back in the 90s’ when Dishwalla sang about God
being a woman? They must have been referring to Geena Davis. Not Thelma & Louise Geena Davis, mind
you. A League of Her Own Geena Davis.
Geena Davis—actress, Oscar winner,
TV President, and prophet—sees all and knows all. Davis provides Her wisdom to
a young Canadian girl named Irene Willis (Michelle McLeod) in the Podunk town
of Park, Ontario, which is too far north of Toronto to be any fun and too far
south of Blahttawa to teach her some sexy French. Irene, a fat, awkward kid who
dreams of being a cheerleader, finds guidance from a higher power by conversing
with a poster of that hangs above her bed. There’s a lot more to learn from Her
than a wise adage about crying and baseball.
Irene
experiences an upbeat coming of age story in Pat Mills’ roaringly funny Don’t Talk to Irene. Irene doesn’t get a
toot about body image despite the snickers and taunts that she’s the fattest
girl in school. Even her mom, Lydia (Anastasia Phillips), a former star of the
pompom league, reminds her that her body isn’t cheerleader material. This
offbeat comedy is unabashedly feel good, but it’s naughty and potty-mouthed,
too, like the spunky heroine at its centre who learns to soar in unconventional
ways.
Screw
convention, though. Irene pluckily sets off to audition for the team and even
sews her own dumpy outfit to fit the part. However, a mean girl at school named
Sarah (Aviva Mongillo) and her friend Tony (James Fry) put Irene through a
cringe-inducing hazing ritual. One suspension later and Irene finds herself
leading a league of her own: old people.
The
principal gives Irene, Sarah, and Tony the ultimate punishment of forced
community service with the elderly, so they tromp next door to the seniors’
residence. They take orders from an OCD manager (Scott Thompson), but Irene
finds freedom in this new stomping ground full of people who have lived far too
long to give two fucks about what anyone cares. Don’t Talk to Irene is Old
Stock with a proud Viagra-induced lady boner as Irene dances with all the
silver fixes at the home and finds far more encouragement, confidence, and
personal growth than cartwheels on the cheerleading team could ever provide.
Euphorically
poppy indie vibes give the film a peppy endorphin high as the soundtrack
embraces Irene’s carefree demeanour. Irene’s unflappable spirit is infectious
as she goes toe to toe with her mom and teaches the former cheerleader a lesson
of her own about shaking off hang-ups and self-doubts. Lydia, who had Irene
just as all her friends left Park for college, is so concerned about other
people that she shields her daughter from the world and bans all connective
devices: phones, computers, and even TV. Irene’s religious devotion to Geena Davis
is a quiet act of rebellion.
Mills’
voice and direction is sharp, witty, and refreshing with this underdog tale for
the misfits. Don’t Talk to Irene is
warm and inclusive as Irene comes into her own and takes pride in her body and
spirit. McLeod shines in an extraordinary debut performance that carries not a
hint of reservation or self-awareness. She’s a natural star and an extremely
funny one at that, showcasing a knack for physical comedy and an even better
hand a keeping the beat of the comedic timing that pulses with vitality in
Mills’ script. It’s impossible not to be completely won over by McLeod and
Irene as she confidently owns the spotlight.
McLeod
has a fun motley crew of supporting players joining her, particularly Andy Reid
as Tesh, Irene’s flamboyantly funny sidekick who falls somewhere whimsical on
the gender fluid spectrum. The film also has a strong rock in Bruce Gray as
Charles, a dashing widower/ex-boxer who moves into the retirement and becomes a
cantankerous dance partner for Irene as he sets the loins of the old ladies of
the house afire. These grand dames are played with deadpan hilarity by Joan
Gregson and Deborah Grover, and there’s also a fun cameo by Mills in Bad Teacher mode with a nod to his
directorial debut Guidance.
But
the wind beneath Irene’s wings is Davis herself, who gamely goes along with the
joke and makes a brief appearance to take Irene’s hand and give her a nudge of confidence.
Her presence complements McLeod’s own carefree attitude, and the joy of what
makes Don’t Talk to Irene one of the
year’s best comedies is seeing these actors excel while having fun. Don’t Talk to Irene
does for Davis what Finding Dory
did for Sigourney Weaver by casting the star in a self-effacing nod to her own
celebrity as she plays God in hilarious voiceover
that guides Irene through life with aphorisms of wisdom that draw on her
filmography. And to think I’ve been praying to Meryl Streep this whole time!
Don’t Talk to Irene opens in Toronto
Sept. 29 at Cineplex Yonge & Dundas.
