Every once in a while, there’s a movie that sneaks up on you and before you know it, you’re so caught up in the characters that you are willing to overlook a dangling plot point. This is the case with “The Hollars”, a terrific little indy film from first time director John Krasinski of NBC’s “The Office.”
In this film, Krasinski gets the bad news that his mother Sally, played by the always endearing Margo Martindale (Emmy winner for “Justified”) has a brain tumor. His father Don, played by Oscar nominee Richard Jenkins, apparently misdiagnosed her and sent her to Jenny Craig, and now things have gotten worse, and she’s in the hospital. Add to this John’s brother, played by Sharlto Copley (“District Nine”) who hasn’t quite gotten over divorcing his wife and is insanely jealous of her new beau played by Josh Groban. And on top of this, John has unresolved feelings for his childhood sweetheart, but also is about to become a father, so there’s that.
Did you get all that? The story does become convoluted, and we lose a plot point and payoff along the way in this dramedy, but the performances by Krasinski, Martindale, Jenkins and Copley as well as Anna Kendrick are so engaging that you are willing to accept the script’s shortcomings and go along for the ride with this dysfunctional family as they navigate their personal revelations.
All in all, this is a solid first effort for director Krasinski, and well worth watching.