If you are someone who has missed watching female friendship-oriented plots, My Best Friend is the watch for you. The plot revolves around Julia and Clara, lifelong best friends and mothers to teenage daughters. They send off their daughters to a student exchange program in Portugal. Rather than being stay-at-home mothers, the two women follow them across the Atlantic. This is a classic case of two women who chase their teenagers, who wish for independence and end up in chaos. The trip becomes a way for them to step outside their roles of mother, wife, and employee that have seemingly defined them for decades. The emotional pressure underneath is what lifts My Best Friend above any other chaotic standard comedy. The plot manages to touch upon menopause, strained relationships, dissatisfaction at work, and the loneliness of changing family dynamics. The central question is whether a friendship can survive when two people face different speeds, one ready to leap, the other still gripping what she knows so far. These are some tough questions on womanhood and parenting that the makers continue to answer.
I also love the movies where the place is a character in itself. Rio de Janeiro, Lisbon, and Seville in themselves form a character that has its own traits. We see the women adapting to these cities, which adds another arc to the overall narrative. Unfamiliar surroundings make the leads feel both confused, playful, and exposed, which is a useful contrast for characters who generally are in charge of everything back in their homes. That is one of the most beautiful subplots that the makers of My Best Friend bless us with.
The pacing is one place where the film occasionally falters. I won't say it's fast or slow all in all. Rather, it is a mix of both. Sometimes it is fast, then again it is slow. This can create slight disruptions in the overall viewing experience because it breaks the momentum while watching. With so much chaos going around and coming in My Best Friend, a fast-paced plot is what the movie would have benefited from. However, that is something we don’t get.
There is plenty of humor that is there. Most of the jokes manage to land well and make you laugh. They stem from embarrassment, affection, and awkwardness that come in ordinary conversations. But sometimes there are scenes where the jokes don’t create the magic one expects them to. With movies that are comic in nature, that is an issue. Not all jokes are meant to make you laugh. Some just stay there. But again, this isn’t really a make-or-break deal. So it doesn't bother you much. Chances are that you might even forget the jokes after all.
The cast is a blessing in My Best Friend. Monica Martelli and Ingrid Guimaraes are amazing in their roles. You won’t feel as if you are watching two actresses act. Everything comes naturally to them, and that is the best part about it all. Their dialog delivery and the way they conduct themselves in the movie feel quite organic. And what more would you want than the actors doing their part? Overall, My Best Friend is a good, light-hearted watch for those who wish to start the week on a sweet note.
Final Score- [7/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times