St. Vincent

BRYCE **1/2
Bill Murray is one of the most gifted comedic actors of all-time and his presence alone can elevate almost any film he appears in.  This is certainly the case with "St. Vincent."  Murray plays the title character, a low-life Vietnam vet who unexpectedly finds himself tending a young boy each day after school.  A predictable chain of events unfolds as Vincent and the boy form a bond that helps them overcome each other's life challenges.  Amidst the formula, writer/director Theodore Melfi attempts to ground the proceedings in reality by not having Vincent change all that much during the process.  The boy ends up loving this man despite his faults and his unwillingness to change.  Unfortunately, what was meant to be a profound message about love and acceptance, comes across as cynical and enabling.  Vincent has no significant arc which makes the story feel useless and uninspiring (a fair criticism I think as the filmmakers are clearly going for an inspirational story).  Bill Murray is very good in the film as usual and he really does quite a bit to lift the material, but he can't overcome the faults of what is ultimately a flawed narrative.

BANGERANG SCORE: **1/2