Parents' Guide to The Easy Kind

Chevigny's memorable docudrama is every bit as interesting as its fascinating subject, Elizabeth Cook. While the differences between the fictionalized and real versions of EC may not be obvious to audiences who aren't familiar with the artist, the inclusion of recognizable supporting actors like Karen Allen (as a neighborhood friend) and Charles Esten (as Tye, a more commercially successful country musician and love interest) makes it clear that The Easy Kind is scripted. The film also includes a brief but impactful cameo by David Letterman, who was one of Cook's earliest champions and frequently featured her on his late-night talk show. Susie Essman also pops up as Janice, a hilariously eccentric New York fixer who seemingly has the magical ability to connect artists with the right producers.

The music throughout the film is electric and will likely turn viewers who are new to Cook into eager fans. It's refreshing to see a movie centered on a middle-aged woman artist who may not be a household name outside of country music circles but is a fierce and fabulous performer—one who's willing to write songs inspired by a Margaret Atwood poem, even when she knows the country music establishment is unlikely to "get it." And the romantic possibilities (one age-appropriate, one considerably younger) serve as a reminder that a woman in her 50s can definitely still be perceived as desirable. But those elements are less important to the story than EC's own journey from childhood performances with her "hillbilly" parents to her respected place as a country music outlaw.