When the credits started rolling on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, I said, “God, that was an awesome movie.” Likewise, when M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening ended, I said, “God, that was the worst movie ever.” There are some movies, though, that aren’t as clear cut to define; which is the case with Wendy and Lucy. Directed by Kelly Reichardt and starring Michelle Williams, it follows Wendy (Williams) and her dog, Lucy, on their move from Indiana to Alaska (trust me, it’s not like Into the Wild).
Williams carries the movie; she even adds the only soundtrack with her humming. I felt bad for her but never sorry for her…her character is stubborn and strong-willed in the face of adversity. She and Lucy keep trudging along. It’s just the two of them – they have no one else – and Wendy is quite endearing with Lucy. It’s cute and sometimes makes me laugh when she speaks to Lucy as if she’s human. But there isn’t much other laughing in the film. It’s actually quite depressing. Nothing seems to go right for Wendy. There’s one scene in which I hope she gets some revenge. The salesclerk at the grocery store rats her out for stealing – he’s a total prick about it – and Wendy spends the day in jail. When she comes across him later, I want her to make him realize he was an asshole….or anything, do something; but nothing happens and I feel just as frustrated as Wendy.
I keep hoping that things will turn around; that life will cut her a break. Her only saving grace is the security guard she meets when her car breaks down. Played by Wally Dalton, he’s like a grandfather-ish figure for Wendy. Extremely kind, caring, and warm-hearted, Dalton’s character is someone Wendy can lean on just a little bit, no matter how hard she tries not to. In one scene, Wendy tells him that she’s on her way to Alaska for a job. It seems that Alaska is the answer to her problems, but when Dalton replies and says how beautiful it is there, she does agree, but blankly, like she won’t be happy there, either.
I felt a little cheated when the movie ended. I went on this whole journey with Wendy and Lucy and then it’s just left open-ended. Well, I guess it makes sense for them to leave me out of it. They were loners. They didn’t like to take much help from anyone, least of all some viewer.
IMDB: 7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
Moviewiseguys: 6.5/10