Parents' Guide to Kajillionaire

Miranda July's film about a family of grifters comes off like a mid-season SNL sketch that doesn't make you laugh and goes on too long. Which is too bad, considering that eccentric characters who put themselves in ridiculous situations are the stuff that many great comedies are made of. Wood misses the mark with her portrayal of Old Dolio, whom her parents named after an unhoused lottery winner in hopes that he'd include them in his will (he doesn't). Her parents, who choose to "skim" through life, are amiable but not cuddly: They've treated their daughter like a business partner since birth. All of their thought energy goes into acquiring money to get by, including living in the office space next to a car wash where they pay reduced rent in exchange for whisking away the suds that bubble over the wall daily. Old Dolio seems irritated by her parents but is completely in their control. Her stiff mannerisms and unnaturally low voice are intended to convey her social awkwardness, but it's misleading. Does she have anxiety? No. Does she have autism spectrum disorder? Hmmm, no. Does she have attachment disorder? Nope. It's just how Wood chooses to play her, and while Wood is typically a thoughtful actress, this character might as well have been constructed by Pauly Shore.

On the other hand, Old Dolio's parents are more familiar. Robert is a paranoid organizer with just enough charm to pull people in. And Theresa's every move, including an unexplained limp, speaks of the difficult life she's lived. This couple has survived by blending in: There's nothing about them that's magnetic, and therefore it's utterly baffling why Melanie, a bright light of happy energy, would be interested in hanging out with them. Even more mysterious is what she sees in Old Dolio. Other details are equally left in the dust. Annapurna Productions is known for presenting films that offer sympathetic looks at women who aren't usually offered sympathy (scamming strippers in Hustlers, the women of Fox News in Bombshell, and the persnickety valedictorian in Booksmart), and Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment is known for making award-winning films -- but not this time. If there is any statue potential here, it's for Winger's memorable performance as the jaded Theresa: In very few words and with a mostly emotionless face, Winger relays a deep cynicism that swims under the surface like a shark. We never see her teeth, but we know she can cause pain.