Bringing Up Bobby (2011)

Number Rolled: 88

Movie Name/Year: Bringing Up Bobby (2011)

Genre: Independent

Length: 95 minutes

Rating: PG-13

Affiliated Companies: Dutch Tilt Films, Fu Works, Head Gear Films, Metrol Technology, Rinkel Film

Executive Producer: Chad Burris, Cole Frates, Phil Hunt, David Johndrow, Maryann Johndrow, Renee Knox, Steve Knox, David Manning, Compton Ross

Director: Famke Janssen

Writer: Cole Frates, Famke Janssen

Actors: Milla Jovovich, Spencer List, Rory Cochrane, Dalton Olive, Eric Starkey, Dan Corley, Bill Pullman, Marcia Cross, Braden Fowler, Renata Batista, Lauren Analla, Ana Anderson, Justin Hall

Olive is a con-woman. She’s also a thief. The label she prefers most of all, however, is mother. In an effort to give her 10-year-old son all the things she’s never had, she will pull any heist and con any person; all-the-while, teaching her son to do the same.

Netflix has this labeled a comedy and an independent comedy as well as simply independent. I don’t know who categorizes these films, but someone was drunk. There were, if I’m generous, about five slightly funny lines in the entire movie.

My suggestion? Don’t go into Bringing Up Bobby thinking it’s a comedy. It’s a drama. I don’t even agree with the possibility of labeling it a dramedy.

That out of the way, I’ll admit I’m disappointed. I saw Milla Jovovich (The Fifth Element, Resident Evil Series, Ultraviolet) and Bill Pullman (Independence Day, The Equalizer, Torchwood: Miracle Day) top-billed and got excited. Both of them are amazing actors and I’ve loved almost every movie/TV show I’ve seen them in.

There was nothing wrong with Pullman’s performance. His character was a little lackluster, but I believe that was a script or story problem. Jovovich, however, was a different story. Everything about her performance seemed forced, even ridiculous at times.

I’d like to forget she even took part in this film.

The story itself had some merit and the big picture of the movie wasn’t awful. I wish there was a better ending and that the script didn’t feel… wrong. There was a lot of misplaced slang, which I don’t find forgivable. This isn’t a period piece. It shouldn’t have been that difficult to at least get the slang correct.

Bringing Up Bobby was completely mediocre, not something I’d voluntarily re-watch.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 17%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 37%

Netflix’s Prediction for Me – 3.7/5

Trust-the-Dice Score – 2.5/5

Movie Trailer: