Ah, youth, where has it gone? Or conversely, ah, old age, why is it already here? The pairing and juxtaposition between young and old is a classic one, but there’s good reason for that. Sure, Dennis the Menace lets us indulge in our innocence and mischief while being glad Mr. Wilson, the adult, is around to pay attention. Having a kid and an older person play off each other highlights differences and similarities. People always have something to learn, especially from each other, and life isn’t over just because you’re old.

Sometimes (often) such movies are cliched or stupid, but they don’t have to be. The themes make sense, because they are universal. Everyone starts as a kid, and everyone grows old. There’s that parallel again, hinting its way at us with blunt unsubtle force. So in the end, it just comes down to the characters, and whether or not they’re worth watching at all.

St. Vincent is the latest movie from writer/director Ted Melfi in his theatrical debut, and considering that, he did a pretty decent job. Bill Murray plays the eponymous Vincent, a crabby, grumpy old curmudgeon with all sorts of problems. His Russian prostitute/girlfriend Daka (Naomi Watts) is pregnant and he’s running out of money in general. So Vincent is none too pleased when he gets new neighbors, a mother and son. Maggie (Melissa McCarthy) is woman going through a messy divorce while her son Oliver (Jaeden Leberher) is small for his age and a bit awkward. As to be expected, he’s being bullied at school and has his keys stolen — but with his mom at work, grumpy ol’ Vincent agrees to babysit — for a price of course. Thus begins a classic bonding story between a kid and a very complicated role model. Vincent has layers; he’s not wholly bad or good, but he certainly makes a lot of mistakes. As this is an indie movie, it’s filled with sadness at times and happiness at others.

Will they help each other and learn something? Well, that’s not really the question, is it? The real question is if the path there is worth watching. And for me, it was worth it. Bill Murray is the obvious standout here, putting humor in lines that wouldn’t be funny otherwise, and pathos in moments that might’ve been maudlin for another performer. He’s great, and he elevates the movie from mediocre to decent. The good news is that the kid, Jaeden Leberher, is a very good partner for Bill Murray. He’s no Harold Ramis, but that’s okay. I found their interactions mostly charming, and pretty honest as well. Naomi Watts was kind of playing a cliche here, but … well, that’s how it was written. She ends up with some interesting things to do eventually, but there’s a lot to go through to get there. Melissa McCarthy was okay, I guess. I’m not a huge fan of hers.

Some of the plotlines that are introduced go nowhere, and others that should have resolutions don’t, but I can’t get into that without spoiling the movie. Suffice it to say, I had a few little doubts as the credits rolled, but Bill Murray is so charming, it’s hard to get that annoyed. Plus, the kid was legitimately good here, and that’s a great surprise — a decent child actor! I don’t want to forget Chris O’Dowd here as the teacher/priest at the Catholic school Oliver goes to, because he has the same sort of ability as Bill Murray to be effortlessly funny. He’s a standout as well. I have a feeling Bill Murray will be the one getting awards attention for this, deservedly so, but the movie isn’t anywhere close to the level he and the other actors give it. It looks nice enough and is paced only a bit sluggishly, so if you want to see a decent Bill Murray showcase, it’s worth your time. If you want a great one, watch Ghostbusters or Groundhog Day.

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THIS OFFER HAS EXPIRED. COMMENTS ARE CLOSED.

CliqueClack has partnered with The Weinstein Company to offer readers in Denver an opportunity to attend an advance screening of the new comedy-drama St. Vincent starring Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts, Chris Dowd, Terrence Howard and introducing Jaeden Lieberher.

Maggie (McCarthy), a single mother, moves into a new home in Brooklyn with her 12-year old son, Oliver (Lieberher). Forced to work long hours, she has no choice but to leave Oliver in the care of their new neighbor, Vincent (Murray), a retired curmudgeon with a penchant for alcohol and gambling. An odd friendship soon blossoms between the improbable pair. Together with a pregnant stripper named Daka (Watts), Vincent brings Oliver along on all the stops that make up his daily routine — the race track, a strip club, and the local dive bar. Vincent helps Oliver grow to become a man, while Oliver begins to see in Vincent something that no one else is able to: a misunderstood man with a good heart.

The screenings will take place as follows:

• Thursday, October 9, 7:00 PM at the United Artists Colorado Center
• Tuesday, October 14, 7:30 PM at the Landmark Greenwood Village

A limited number of passes are available on a first come, first served basis. There are two ways to get passes, please read and follow the directions CAREFULLY. There will be no exceptions.

To get passes for the October 9 screenings, visit GoFoBo.com to download up to two Admit One passes. Do not comment for this screening!

For the October 14, screening:

• Comment on this post ONLY with the location: LANDMARK GREENWOOD VILLAGE. Do not include anything else in your comment or it will be invalid. If you make a mistake, do not edit your comment because it will not register. You must submit a new comment.
• Include your FULL NAME (First and Last) and email address on the entry form (NOT in the comment box!). Double check your email address before submitting. If your email address is misspelled, you will not receive passes.
• ONE entry per person or couple will be accepted. One Admit Two pass will be awarded per comment. Please do not request more than one pair. CliqueClack has the right to discard any duplicates or comments that appear to be duplicates. Multiple comments from a single person will result in complete disqualification. As this is not a random drawing, only one person per couple needs to comment. Keep these offers fair for everyone!
• Check your calendar before commenting. If you have no intention of using the passes, please don’t leave a comment. If the studios see that passes we are given to award to our readers are not being used, they will not want to offer us passes for future screenings. Please be considerate!

Please note that passes do not guarantee seats at the screening. Seating is first come, first served so plan to arrive early. CliqueClack has no control over the total number of passes distributed, and is not responsible for seating arrangements at the theater. St. Vincent is rated PG-13.

Have a look at the trailer below and then let us know that you want to see the movie first! St. Vincent opens Friday, October 17.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5BVn-eyAxA

THIS OFFER HAS EXPIRED. COMMENTS ARE CLOSED.

CliqueClack has partnered with The Weinstein Company to offer readers in Boston an opportunity to attend an advance screening of the new comedy-drama St. Vincent starring Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts, Chris Dowd, Terrence Howard and introducing Jaeden Lieberher.

Maggie (McCarthy), a single mother, moves into a new home in Brooklyn with her 12-year old son, Oliver (Lieberher). Forced to work long hours, she has no choice but to leave Oliver in the care of their new neighbor, Vincent (Murray), a retired curmudgeon with a penchant for alcohol and gambling. An odd friendship soon blossoms between the improbable pair. Together with a pregnant stripper named Daka (Watts), Vincent brings Oliver along on all the stops that make up his daily routine — the race track, a strip club, and the local dive bar. Vincent helps Oliver grow to become a man, while Oliver begins to see in Vincent something that no one else is able to: a misunderstood man with a good heart.

The screening will take on Tuesday, October 14, 7:00 PM at AMC Boston Common.

A limited number of passes are available on a first come, first served basis. To be eligible, please read and follow the directions CAREFULLY. There will be no exceptions.

• Comment on this post ONLY with the location: BOSTON. Do not include anything else in your comment or it will be invalid. If you make a mistake, do not edit your comment because it will not register. You must submit a new comment.
• Include your FULL NAME (First and Last) and email address on the entry form (NOT in the comment box!). Double check your email address before submitting. If your email address is misspelled, you will not receive passes.
• ONE entry per person or couple will be accepted. One Admit Two pass will be awarded per comment. Please do not request more than one pair. CliqueClack has the right to discard any duplicates or comments that appear to be duplicates. Multiple comments from a single person will result in complete disqualification. As this is not a random drawing, only one person per couple needs to comment. Keep these offers fair for everyone!
• Check your calendar before commenting. If you have no intention of using the passes, please don’t leave a comment. If the studios see that passes we are given to award to our readers are not being used, they will not want to offer us passes for future screenings. Please be considerate!

Please note that passes do not guarantee seats at the screening. Seating is first come, first served so plan to arrive early. CliqueClack has no control over the total number of passes distributed, and is not responsible for seating arrangements at the theater. St. Vincent is rated PG-13.

Have a look at the trailer below and then let us know that you want to see the movie first! St. Vincent opens Friday, October 17.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5BVn-eyAxA