Parents' Guide to Hudson

Solid performances and tender depictions of characters, townsfolk, and locations make for a very watchable comedic drama. But while Hudson shines in tone, many viewers might find its content aimless. The primary perspective is from a 30-something aspiring actor who thought he'd be further in life than he is. By rediscovering family and a friendship with his cousin, Ryan learns about self love and acceptance. There are quirky and harmless characters and conversations, moments of 30-something frustration and malaise, and a generally arbitrary and more-about-the-journey-than-the-destination mission to accomplish. The only problem is that the world presented is incredibly White and depicts a very soft America. If any of these characters were not White (every character in the film is White), then almost all their situations and encounters with townsfolk, strangers, and random people would be drastically different. For example, when Ryan and Hudson meet Sunrise, she happily and without any reservation agrees to join the two male strangers to some vague destination.

Generally, some viewers might not enjoy watching an entire film about the malaise, boredom, and disappointment of 30-something White people, who have, really, nary a care in the world. The message of the film seems to be something about the aimlessness of life and living, so therefore you might as well relax, chill, stop worrying so much, and being, as Sunrise suggests, "so serious all the time." But of course, the problem is that for many non-White 30-somethings, their lives are more seriously considered and lived, as the American landscape certifiably looks a lot different than the one presented in this White people problems/Mumblecore film subgenre.