‘Ricki and the Flash’ shows off Streep’s sexy style but falls short on story
– Film Review by Cate Marquis –
In “Ricki and the Flash,” Meryl Streep gets a rare chance to show off her sexy side, as the lead singer of a rock band. After a string of matronly roles, it is nice to see Streep show that Helen Mirren isn’t the only actress who can play a hot woman over 40. While Streep does that with style and is terrific in the musical numbers, expectations were high with Jonathan Demme directing and Diablo Cody providing the script. Unfortunately, the film falls short on story.
Meryl Streep plays Ricki Rendazzo, an aging hard-rocking singer/guitarist with a Los Angeles-based band. Ricki fronts a band that includes talented lead guitarist Greg (Rick Springfield). Although, Greg is in love with her, Ricki has issues with commitment. Years earlier, Ricki had abandoned her family in the Midwest, husband and three children, to pursue her dreams of rock and roll stardom. Her ex-husband has remarried but suddenly calls Ricki when their daughter faces emotional collapse after her sudden divorce. Ricki has the chance to reconnect with her now-grown children and make some things right.
The film gives Streep a chance to play opposite her real-life daughter Mamie Gummer, who bears some resemblance to her famous mother. Their scenes together are fun, with Gummer showing a dry wit against Streep’s flamboyant character. The film also reunites Streep with her “Sophie’s Choice” co-star Kevin Kline, who plays the ex-husband. Kline and Streep are good together but one has to wish that writer Diablo Cody had filled in a little more of the character’s history, which remains sketchy.
Having the band include a real rock star, Rick Springfield, means the band is pretty darn good too. Actually, that fact that the band is too good is one of the film’s problems. When the story starts out, we expect to find out that Ricki and the Flash are a one-time hit that has now faded from memory as the members have aged. Instead, we are told that the band had only one album, which didn’t sell, and has been playing the same L.A. Club for years. It could happen, but with musicians this good, it does not seem likely. We are also expected to believe that Ricki gave up her family for this very modest success, which also is no very credible.
Not surprisingly, the musical numbers are the best part of the film, with as a kind of Bonnie Raitt type rocker in the musical numbers. But as enjoyable as they are, there are too many musical numbers in the film, while the story and character development are thin, leaving too many questions unanswered and the audience largely uninvolved.
Too bad. “Ricki and the Flash” could have been a solid winner, with its stellar cast and premise about choices in life. As it is, unless one is eager to see Streep rocking out, you can safely pass on this film.
© Cate Marquis
