One of the best parts of the holiday break is having the time to lay around and watch movies! My sister and I were debating what to watch the other day so after perusing the RedBox, my sister picked Flipped. It was not until I imdb'd the title that I realized Flipped was a little movie I have been wanting to see since August. BUT, much to my dismay, there were no theaters around showing it, so I let Flipped slip my mind...until today.
Flipped is a coming-of-age tale set in the 1950s. Madeline Carroll (who plays Juli Baker) and Callan McAuliffe (who plays Bryce Loski) are the young stars who carry this film and they do it exceptionally. The story centers around the ongoing tension between Juli and Bryce. Akin to the ongoing tension between Juli and Bryce, we hear their story in the same way: a he-said/she-said narration of the same events dictates this film. In the beginning, it is Juli who finds her self enamored by Bryce; she believes he is more than the sum of his parts. Bryce however finds Juli to be weird and being a young boy, weird equates to bad or stupid; nothing Bryce does seems to get rid of her much to his dismay. Juli's chase lasts until middle school--that's when things start to get interesting and that is when things start to flip. A series of incidents cause Juli to question Bryce's character, and ultimately, her affections for the boy with the "sparkling eyes." Bryce begins to see Juli for how truly special she is; she is not like the other girls in middle school--she has substance that is far more than the perfect hair and dresses of her female peers. And even though Bryce has hated Juli since he was seven years old, he finds himself confused by his suddenly evolving feelings, which become even more complicated by Juli's apparent indifference about him.
No coming-of-age tale would be complete without the complications that family life presents. Juli and Bryce's families, neighbors, seem to be polar opposites. Juli's seemingly free-spirit ways are reflective of what appears to be a free-spirited family; however, a painter for a father (played by Aidan Quinn), lack of money and an unkept front yard are far more significant than what they seem. Bryce's family from outward appearances look to be the stereotypical 1950s family, but they are not the Cleavers; although they seem to have it all, having it all has its price. Both of these families have their fair share of the good and the bad; what one family lacks, the other is fortunate enough to have. Isn't that true of real life? No family is perfect. Things are often not what they seem.
Rob Reiner directed this film, and for those familiar with his work, this definitely has his stamp. Flipped's simple, funny and compelling story has a lot to say. The supporting cast of this film is also excellent. John Mahoney (of Frasier fame) is particularly poignant as Bryce's grandfather. It is Bryce's grandfather who acts as sort of a moral compass for Bryce. It is only when Bryce's grandfather takes a liking to Juli and sees her as the "irridescent" being that she is that Bryce begins to see her in the same light.
I am not too subjective when it comes to films like Flipped: the story is always heart-warming and makes one nostalgic for childhood. However, this movie is also poignant. In an age of highly technical, spectacle-like films, sometimes you just need a movie to ground you. As people come and go in my life, I sometimes struggle to determine what exactly I should hold on to. So, although the stars of this film are only 14-years-old, the story is the same no matter what age you are: remain true to yourself and things will work out the way they should. Corny, I know. But, this movie isn't corny. I was truly touched by this film and found myself smiling at its end. There was something beautiful in its simplicity. So, do yourself a favor next time you see a RedBox: pay the dollar and see this film!
~Erin
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