Welcome to Me
Common Sense says
- R
- 2015
- 88 minutes
Parents say
Kids say
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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 although Welcome to Me stars Kristen Wiig and has funny scenes/moments, it deals with serious subjects and is ultimately a somewhat disturbing dramedy about what untreated mental illness really looks like. In one scene, a woman parades stark naked (breasts, pubic area visible) through a Las Vegas casino. Other scenes show her having sex and administering oral sex (no sensitive body parts on view, though it's clear what she's doing). There's also plenty of swearing, including "f--k" and "c--t," some angry outbursts and fights, and scenes in which adult characters drink and smoke weed.
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What's the story?
Alice Klieg (Kristen Wiig) suffers from borderline personality disorder. After she wins $86 million in the lottery, Alice decides to go off her meds, which sends her world spinning into chaos. The windfall gives her a certain kind of freedom, which is why she opts to let her mental illness go unchecked and spends the money to fund her wildest notions. A fan of Oprah, Alice decides to use her winnings toward creating her own TV talk show. So begins a strange adventure that has Alice's therapist (Tim Robbins) worried, her best friend (Linda Cardellini) alarmed, a producer (James Marsden) salivating at the opportunity, and his brother (Wes Bentley) infatuated.
Is it any good?
WELCOME TO ME is irreverent, funny, and moving, and Wiig carries off a complicated role with aplomb and confidence. But you'll pay for all of that with a sense of discomfort that will lodge itself into your conscience midway through the film and clamor for recognition by the end. There's no denying the film's unusual plot and refreshing script, but it's hard to shake the fact that the laughs sometimes come at the expense of a very ill character, one who's given free reign to destroy and yet gets an ending that glosses over the consequences of her actions and attempts to wrap it all up in a neat bow. Alice Klieg deserves a more nuanced, complex resolution to her story.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about how Welcome to Me portrays mental illness. The plot is somewhat absurdist and relies on uncomfortable laughs; does that hamper or advance issues related to the realities of mental illness? What other movies/TV shows have you seen that address the topic?
Why do you think Alice decides to stop taking her medication? How do her friends help or hurt her, despite their best intentions? Is Alice responsible for her actions when she's unmedicated?
What do you think the movie's message is intended to be? Who is it meant to appeal to? How can you tell?
Movie details
- In theaters: May 1, 2015
- On DVD or streaming: June 16, 2015
- Cast: Kristen Wiig, Tim Robbins, James Marsden, Wes Bentley
- Director: Shira Piven
- Studio: Alchemy
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Misfits and Underdogs
- Run time: 88 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: sexual content, some graphic nudity, language and brief drug use
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