Grandma

Paul Weitz's insightful and idiosyncratic road movie revolves around Elle Reid (Lily Tomlin), a peppery poet and semi-retired academic who is still grieving for Violet, her partner for 30 years. Elle's day begins as she coldly dismisses much-younger Olivia (Judy Greer), with whom she's had a four-month fling. And then Elle's 18-year-old granddaughter, Sage (Julia Garner), appears on her doorstep, asking for $600 to pay for an abortion scheduled for later that afternoon. Having just paid her bills, Elle is broke. And she cannot use her credit cards since she cut them up to make a wind chime, wryly explaining, “I'm transmogrifying my life into art.” Since going to Sage's brusque, judgmental businesswoman mother (Marcia Gay Harden) is out of the question, the pair climb into Violet's '55 Dodge Royal Lancer and begin driving around Los Angeles, trying to scrounge up the necessary cash. First stop is an attempt to shakedown the weasel (Nat Wolff) who got Sage pregnant. Next, Elle tries to sell her feminist first editions to a bookstore/cafe owner (Elizabeth Peña), and retrieve a loan from a transgender tattoo artist (Laverne Cox). Most memorable among the people they visit is Karl (Sam Elliott), who has never forgotten (or forgiven) Elle. Written and directed by Paul Weitz, Grandma serves up a quirky character study within the wrapper of an acerbic dramedy that is perfectly tailored for Tomlin's considerable talents. Recommended. (S. Granger)