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Ricki and the Flash

MPA Rating: PG-13-Rating (MPA) for thematic material, brief drug content, sexuality and language.
Moral Rating: not reviewed
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Adults
Genre: Comedy Music Drama
Length: 1 hr. 41 min.
Year of Release: 2015
USA Release: August 6, 2015 (wide—1,800+ theaters)
DVD: November 24, 2015
Copyright, TriStar Pictures, a division of Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainmentclick photos to ENLARGE Copyright, TriStar Pictures, a division of Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment Copyright, TriStar Pictures, a division of Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment Copyright, TriStar Pictures, a division of Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment Copyright, TriStar Pictures, a division of Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment Copyright, TriStar Pictures, a division of Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment Copyright, TriStar Pictures, a division of Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment
Relevant Issues

Giving up family to follow your dream

Seeking personal redemption

Truly seeking goodness and righteousness

About women of the Bible

Copyright, TriStar Pictures, a division of Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment Copyright, TriStar Pictures, a division of Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment Copyright, TriStar Pictures, a division of Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment
Featuring Meryl Streep … Ricki
Kevin Kline … Pete Brummel
Sebastian Stan … Joshua
Mamie Gummer … Julie
Ben Platt … Daniel
Rick Springfield … Greg
Charlotte Rae … Oma
Audra McDonald … Maureen
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Director Jonathan Demme — “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991), “The Manchurian Candidate” (2004), “Philadelphia” (1993)
Producer Clinica Estetico
LStar Capital
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Distributor TriStar Pictures, a division of Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment

Here’s what the distributor says about their film: “Meryl Streep takes on a whole new gig—a hard-rocking singer/guitarist—for Oscar®-winning director Jonathan Demme and Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody in ‘Ricki and the Flash.’ In an original and electrifying film loaded with live musical performances, Streep stars as Ricki Rendazzo, a guitar heroine who made a world of mistakes as she followed her dreams of rock-and-roll stardom. Returning home, Ricki gets a shot at redemption and a chance to make things right as she faces the music with her family.

Decades after leaving, her ex-husband Pete asks her to visit Chicago and help their estranged, divorced-daughter Julie through a difficult time. She decides to be a mother again to her estranged children.

Streep stars opposite her real-life daughter Mamie Gummer (“Emily Owens M.D.” CW TV series), with Rick Springfield portraying a Flash member in love with Ricki, and Kevin Kline as Ricki’s ex-husband, and Audra McDonald as Kline’s new wife.”

Violence: Minor / Profanity: Moderate / Sex/Nudity: Heavy

Volunteer reviewer needed for this movie

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Positive
Positive—A very heartwarming film about broken lives, poor choices and the power of forgiveness, although forgiveness isn’t the overriding theme. The central character is expertly played by Meryl Streep. If you’re a Streep fan, I don’t believe you can be disappointed. She literally carries most of the film, and the other actors merely feed off of her or reflect from her. It’s a new and unchartered territory for Streep. You’ve never seen her like this before, and, as with every role Streep plays, you can believe she is really this character. Very touching movie and had me smiling inside and out.

The only real objectionable content is the reference to homosexuality. Streep’s son is gay, and the gay agenda is yet again being pushed to the front. Aside from that, the movie was very enjoyable. Kevin Kline gives a great performance, and Rick Springfield wonderfully plays the on-off boyfriend to Streep’s character.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4
Dalia, age 42 (United Kingdom)
Movie Critics
…Streep is pitch-perfect, but the film hits more than a few false notes. …
Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter
…This is a story that, in its own damaged way, is about family, healing and grace. …
Paul Asay, Plugged In
…a sour movie masquerading as something more cheerful… Meryl Streep rocks in “Ricki and the Flash,” but story is out of tune…
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
…Streep’s no rock-and-roll mama… here is a role Streep should not have tried, in a movie that should not have been made… [2/4]
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
…bad role models and a dysfunctional family… RICKI AND THE FLASH has some nice family elements, with some good acting, but is uneven and has a strong Romantic, pagan worldview overall, with some politically correct components and crude content. …
Ted Baehr, Movieguide
…Meryl Streep’s rocker mama a vaguely sketched character in a scattershot story… [2/4]
Rafer Guzmán, Long Island Newsday
…too many familiar notes mean too much Ricki, not enough flash… If it wasn't for the formidable stage presence of Hollywood's favorite chameleon Meryl Streep… “Ricki and the Flash” could easily have been a straight-to-DVD…
Christa Banister, Crosswalk
…the emotional beats sometimes feel a bit too pat, and a night of pot-smoking by Ricki and Pete dissolves into fits of giggling that had me wondering if maybe the actors had actually inhaled. But you never know with Streep; she’s THAT good. …[3/4]
Chris Knight, National Post
…“Ricki and the Flash” flames out… [2½/4]
Barbara Vancheri, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
…‘Ricki and the Flash’ is a waste of Meryl Streep’s talent… [2/4]
Sara Stewart, New York Post

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