7/25/20 - Family (2019) - 6/10

The juggalo aspect is pushed pretty hard by the marketing materials, but that is more of just a story capper. In actuality, this fairly endearing and sharply funny look at a misfit aunt and niece as they bond ends up being more about the juggalo spirit; love and acceptance no matter how weird you are, especially when you are abrasive to the norm.

This is a cast chock full of talent, and Taylor Schilling is stellar as a socially bitter career woman who has lost her way. Her straight faced gutteral insults and spastic freneticism worked, especially against the dower (almost melancholy) social outcast of the young actress Bryn Vale. The metamorphosis and the oddly believable “no filter, no remorse, and no politeness” of the journey was refreshing and I liked it. Sprinkle in Brian Tyree Henry, Matt Walsh, Eric Edelstein, Alison Tolman, Natasha Lyonne (her 2 minutes are killer) and Kate McKinnon and the film really kind of pops. As for McKinnon, she oddly felt a little miscast and wasn’t able to provide many laughs. (Side note: McKinnon might need a different casting agent with things like her role in Yesterday, Rough Night, The Spy Who Dumped Me, and this - feels like a waste of her immense talent)

Most of the film has nothing to do with ICP or juggalos. But when the Gathering finally happens, it is a satisfying metaphorical conclusion - it is about letting ones freak flag fly, finding familial bonds within an escape from society, and accepting oneself for who they are and who they truly want to be to make themselves happy. I think they do a decent job of poking juggalo culture with a stick and sneering, as the masses would. But they also provide a platform to display the positive and beneficial parts of that world, ending with interviews of true to life ICP fanatics.

 It is a film that has a heart amidst the somber caustic humor and a satisfying familial journey. It is never cloying, forever keeping such emotional outpourings bottled and stored, but there are slight seeps as it assuages and culminates. I grew to like it more as it went on and could easily recommend.