I'm Totally Fine
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I'm Totally Fine
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that I'm Totally Fine is a comedic take on the grieving process. Bell's character, Vanessa (Jillian Bell), uses and mixes substances -- including Xanax, MDMA, vodka, tequila, and cigarettes -- to cope with the loss of her best friend/business partner, Jennifer (Natalie Morales). The scenes where Vanessa is under the influence of Molly are made to look incredibly fun, as well as transformative in her healing process. While Vanessa is reckless with her drug and alcohol use, she's quite responsible in other ways -- for example, not wanting to take a ride from strangers when her car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Her emotional turmoil results in her being short with/unkind to service workers and others who are just trying to help or do their job, and she often laces her conversation with the word "f--k." Additional strong language includes "damn," "goddamn" "Jesus!," and more.
What's the Story?
In I'M TOTALLY FINE, Vanessa (Jillian Bell) takes a trip to mourn the passing of her best friend/business partner, Jennifer (Natalie Morales). But on her second day at the vacation rental, Vanessa is shocked to see her late friend is there at the house with her -- alive.
Is It Any Good?
Odd but sweet, this story about the power of female friendship and the importance of moving on is entertainingly offbeat but not truly revelatory. While the movie's message does fit on a sign, it's not exactly concise -- "We can't lose what we once enjoyed; what we loved becomes a part of us." A shorter takeaway might be to say that this is the friendship version of "it's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all."
The fact that Jennifer returns in a very unexpected form allows Vanessa to reflect on the wonderful memories they shared and come to accept that their time together was wonderful but is now over. For many teens, there may not be much here to connect with, although the unusual story is just engaging enough to keep their attention. But for those who have lost a friend, expect tears. Buckets of them.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about I'm Totally Fine's message. What will you take away from watching?
How is Vanessa is able to come to terms with Jennifer's death? Could she have done this without the "Jen" visitor?
Does I'm Totally Fine normalize or glamorize drug, alcohol, and cigarette use? How do media depictions influence our own choices?
How does Vanessa treat the people around her? Compare that to how most of the characters treat her -- i.e. with compassion. Do you think her treatment of them warrants their kindness? Should we be patient with those going through something difficult? Why is showing compassion an important life skill?
Movie Details
- In theaters: November 4, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: November 4, 2022
- Cast: Jillian Bell, Natalie Morales, Harvey Guillén
- Director: Brandon Dermer
- Studio: DECAL
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Space and Aliens
- Run time: 83 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: January 20, 2023
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