Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Michelle Williams shines in drab art dramedy; male nudity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Showing Up
What's the Story?
In SHOWING UP, Portland sculptor Lizzy (Michelle Williams) is in the hectic week leading up to her big art show. When her neighbor, Jo (Hong Chau), asks her to keep an eye on an injured pigeon she's nursing back to health, it becomes one more distraction in a growing list.
Is It Any Good?
While there's deep complexity in this character study, it's such a quiet little movie that it seems like very little happens. Writer-director Kelly Reichardt offers viewers an opportunity to do something we typically only joke about: watch paint dry. Lizzy may defy some people's idea of the colorful lives that they imagine artists live: Lizzy is drab, her life is boring, and many teens will find her work uninteresting, none of which will help keep younger viewers engaged.
On the other hand, Williams is marvelous in her portrayal of a woman who's pushed to the side by her family and friends, always the lower priority. It takes some maturity and sophistication to see everything that's between the strokes. Lizzy is creating something out of nothing -- her art and her life -- and that's not always splashy or dynamic, but the quality is up to the creator.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about setting boundaries. How do other characters in Showing Up take advantage of Lizzy's reliability?
Which characters demonstrate compassion, and why is it an important character trait? Discuss Lizzy's evolving treatment of the injured pigeon: How does this speak to the complexity of her character? How does it extend to her relationship with her brother?
Is Lizzy lonely, or does she enjoy her isolation?
Are Lizzy and Jo friends or just colleagues? Do you think their relationship is realistic?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 7, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : April 7, 2023
- Cast : Michelle Williams , Hong Chau , Judd Hirsch
- Director : Kelly Reichardt
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : A24
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Arts , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Run time : 108 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : brief graphic nudity
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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