Director: Lynn Shelton
Cast: Keira Knightley, Chloe Grace Moretz, Sam Rockwell, Kaitlyn Dever
Certificate: 15
Running time: 99 minutes
Synopsis: In the throes of a quarter-life crisis, Megan panics when her boyfriend proposes, then, taking an opportunity to escape for a week, hides out in the home of her new friend, 16-year-old Annika, who lives with her world-weary single dad.
Lynn Shelton writes and directs, and occasionally acts in, films with a central female protagonist that try and unpick a feeling, a moment or a time period in their lives worth talking about.
Her latest directorial offering, SAY WHEN (formerly LAGGIES), opts to focus on a time when we should, according to society, be starting to finally have our life in order – the dreaded twenties. High school and college are over; time to settle down, put your degree to good use and behave like an adult. Those are the prospects facing Megan (Keira Knightley) as she watches her friends succeed in careers and relationships whilst she flounders, working as a ‘sign girl’ at her father’s tax business instead of using her advanced degree for any purpose. Relationship wise she is faring better; until her long-term boyfriend proposes and sends her running for the hills. In fleeing, she meets teenager Annika (Chloe Grace Moretz) who brings Megan into her circle of friends. Also allowing Megan to seek refuge in her home, Annika unwittingly gives her divorce-lawyer single dad Craig (Sam Rockwell) a new love interest in Megan. Fleeing her own set of issues might have been one solution, but now faced with the trials and tribulations of teenagers and single parents, was Megan better off where she was?
SAY WHEN brings together an ensemble cast that lifts an ordinary script to more charming heights. Knightley and Moretz are comfortable in their roles but it is Sam Rockwell who, as the voice of reason in this odd situation, brings a warmth and humour to the screen without which the plot would continue at stalemate. Stealing every scene in which she is present, Kaitlyn Dever (as Annika’s kooky best friend Misty) continues her impressive stomp towards leading lady material with the odd dignity in the ridiculous that only an eighteen year old girl can possess.
With longer than necessary devoted to the initial set up, SAY WHEN is at its best throwing Megan into teenage situations and allowing her to rediscover her path through her young friends. Teen parties, shopping trips and bedroom hangouts in which a teen’s time perception is evaluated are all strong comedic elements and, with a strong young cast, could have been utilised further. The inevitable relationship climax isn’t overly dependent on cliche, but a ‘shock’ revelation that Megan doesn’t need to have every detail of her life sown up in a snappy 99 minutes could have left less of a sour taste in the audience’s throat.
SAY WHEN, with unrealised potential to throw something different into the genre, is a serviceable rom-com to add to the collection.
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SAY WHEN is released in UK cinemas Friday 7th November.
