Tanya’s Score: Okay-and-a-half*
Rated: PG
Starring: Awkwafina
Plot: A Chinese/American woman (Awkwafina) struggles with the fact that her grandmother only has months to live and that the family has collectively agreed not to tell her she is sick.
Tanya’s Verdict: I had high hopes for this one – especially after watching the trailer. But it fell way short.
I clearly knew that with the subject matter of this film it would be a drama – maybe even a tear jerker. But at the same time, there was room for this movie to be so much more. It could’ve gone beyond the specific family story it was telling – and though it tried, it failed. The main character Billi was perfectly teetered between two cultures – each with a differing view on how to handle the situation at hand. And though this was touched upon, it wasn’t explored. It had a few light and funny moments – but it could have and should have had more.
In the end, The Farewell was completely maudlin, dull and dreary at times – even a bit boring here and there.
It could have been so much better. It should have been so much better.
*Four score descriptions: Sh**; Okay; Good; Great