Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Movie review by Michael Ordona, Common Sense Media
Can You Ever Forgive Me? Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

Wry, painful fact-based comedy has language, drinking.

R 2018 107 minutes
Rate movie

Parents say

age 17+

Based on 1 review

Kids say

age 11+

Based on 2 reviews

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate movie

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Can You Ever Forgive Me? is a smart, bitingly funny, but also bleak story based on a memoir by down-on-her-luck writer Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy), who turns to forgery when she desperately needs to make ends meet. Expect plenty of strong language ("f--k," "s--t," "c--t," and many more) amid the characters' witty banter. Israel is an alcoholic, so there's also extensive drinking, as well as some cocaine and marijuana use. Not much in the way of sex is shown on-screen (though viewers will get a brief glimpse of a naked male butt), but there are sexual themes, and the characters talk about sex and promiscuity. Richard E. Grant and Dolly Wells co-star.

Community Reviews

Lalybro
Lalybro Adult
April 14, 2019
age 17+

True story with excessive innuendo

There is a true story in here but it practically gets buried in too much innuendo and swearing. If a parent really wants their child or teen to watch a rated R movie there are others that have a better message or story and less excessive foul language and innuendo than this one.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?, once-touted biographical author Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy) is extremely down on her luck. She hasn't been published in years, she just got fired, she's way behind on her rent, and now her cat is sick. Pretty much the only thing going well for her is her drinking. Soon after meeting charming kindred barfly Jack (Richard E. Grant), Lee stumbles upon an illegal way to pay her bills: She uses her talent to mimic the voices of literary greats and forge personal letters from them to sell. But how long can she keep the game afoot? The movie is based on Israel's same-named memoir.

Is It Any Good?

It's a festival of self-loathing, but this comedy does a remarkable job of balancing its bleaker elements with the lightness of Israel's quick mind. Nicole Holofcener of Enough Said and Jeff Whitty of Broadway's Avenue Q have crafted one of 2018's more nimble scripts. Director Marielle Heller (Diary of a Teenage Girl) and McCarthy let us into Lee's oppressive cloud of stress and worry while keeping the film afloat with her wit and drive to survive. And Can You Ever Forgive Me? is a feast for lovers of certain literary figures, as Lee captures their voices so skillfully. Her felonious scheme is portrayed in its full complexity: We admire the writing talent that makes it possible while cringing at its impact on innocent people.

The latter lands most effectively because of the wonderful supporting work of Dolly Wells as a smart, shy bookseller Lee becomes infatuated with but victimizes anyway. Wells recalls Shailene Woodley's exquisite fragility in The Spectacular Now with her authentic vulnerability. It's painful for viewers to watch her admiration for Lee grow, since they know what Lee is up to. It's a lovely, memorable performance. And then there's Grant as suave, hustling, aging ne'er-do-well Jack; it's a role that feels written specifically for the British charmer. He fully inhabits such dialogue as (when inviting himself to sit next to the sour Lee) "I'm coming over. I'm not good at reading social cues." In Jack, Grant (who, ironically, isn't a drinker in real life) may have finally found the showcase role needed to earn awards recognition. Pouring these two loquacious losers into a kind of depressive caper comedy tastes like a few parts Barfly and a few parts Ironweed, shaken, on the rocks.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Lee's actions in Can You Ever Forgive Me? She was trying to survive, but does that make what she did OK? Or understandable? Did you have mixed feelings about what she did? Why or why not?

  • The two main characters are unrepentant, almost romanticized alcoholics. What do you think of the way the movie depicted drinking?

  • Lee is very different from the types of characters Melissa McCarthy is best known for. Why do you think the idea of playing Lee might have appealed to her? Do you like seeing comedic actors try different styles/genres?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate