Movie Review: Gifted: Love Is All It Takes

 
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“One way or another we all end up back together”

After watching a string of romantic, sci-fi, thriller movies I didn’t know what I was looking for. Until I stumbled upon a movie so simple yet complicated. But when I say I didn’t know what I was looking for I ain’t entirely honest. Because if not anything else I was definitely in search of Chris Evans and when I finally found him there was no way back.

Introduction

Genre- Drama, Comedy

Cast-  Mckenna Grace, Chris Evans, Jenny Slate, Octavia Spencer

Director- Marc Webb

Language-  English

Cast 

Frank Adler: This charming middle-aged guy will grab your attention in the very beginning and hook you till the very end. Besides his charming looks and devilish personality, there is so much more to his character, a caring responsible uncle/guardian. A wise friend, a protective mother, a most loving father.

Mary Adler: The apple of an eye, this girl is all-stars from her opening scene. She is a cutie but her acting is absolutely mature. Mckenna Grace won all her hearts with her stellar performance while her character was engaging as it is. 

Evelyn Adler: Mary’s grandmother is a pompous bitch and bossy old lady, who was on her mother’s case for her career. Mary’s mother died, killing all her mother’s expectations and hopes of solving the Navier stroke problem. In the hope of training Mary, she fights for custody with Frank. She plays an evident role in the movie in wreaking havoc in the uncle-niece duo’s life.

Roberta: This is the sweetest and cocky character in the movie. She is the woman next door and likes a family to Mary and Frank. Extremely attached to Mary she played a significant role in raising her up.

Synopsis Alert!

Math is a fear to many but in some uncanny fortunate circumstances, it’s a blessing. One such stakeholder is Mary Adler, a 7-year-old math prodigy who lives with her uncle Frank Adler aka guardian. 

Frank has been taking care of her since her childhood after her mother took her own life. Mary’s mother Diane was herself a promising mathematician and wanted for her daughter to have a normal lifestyle. 

Therefore, rather than sending her to any special school, Frank enrolled Mary into a public school and on her first day of first grade, Mary outdoes her teacher by solving advanced calculations faster than the calculator. Even though she’s bored in the class she tries to settle in. 

But what’s a story without a twist. Despite Frank’s determined efforts to provide for Mary and give her a normal life. He fails to control the genius inside her. Mary’s grandmother and Frank’s mother Evelyn Adler come into the picture, demanding for her to be put into a private school where Mary’s potential can be tapped in. 

No matter how averse and apprehensive Frank is to the idea, he even goes into a custody battle for his niece with his mother. He eventually gives in. When Mary is sent to foster parents in a lavish home and a private school she only wants to desperately go back to her uncle. 

Well whatever her fates hold, you will find a gripping tale of an adorable sweetheart and her caring fatherly uncle and their not-so-normal life.

Personal Verdict

Having watched this movie months ago I still feel it was just yesterday when Mary and Frank were in front of my eyes. The story is all about love, happiness and sacrifice amidst chaos and challenges. 

All the scenes are endearing but there are some scenes close to my heart and are worth watching.

For example in the very first scene, where Mary is super annoyed about going to school while Frank has no choice but to get her ready. Knocking at her door for breakfast while she is not in the mood. He calls her beautiful and she says “I look like a Disney character”. This banter isn’t happy nor affectionate, it's rather bitter-sweet. Yet it only makes you want to watch ahead.

Mary is too smart to be convinced and is beyond her age, but when she leaves her teacher is befuddled after solving some advanced math questions in her class. That’s the scene that hikes your interest.

There are some cute scenes between Frank and Roberta(Mary’s teacher) but I can't vouch for them to be one of my favourites.

All the scenes in the school are entertaining, with her friends, showing off her math genius while being completely nonchalant and bored about it. Her body language and accent are the cutest things.

Amidst all these scenes there was a scene in Boston University where Mary had to solve a hard problem which apparently was wrong. Mary takes a long time pondering over it, just gaping at it. However, when she finally started solving the problem, it was a sight to watch.

Loaded with drama and comedy the movie has a plethora of lovely eye-candy scenes. I watched this movie as if I didn’t want it to end. And talk about the end. A heart-breakingly touching scene where Mary reunites with Frank after being left into foster care. How they both are complete without each other, is written all over it.

My Ratings for the movie:  4 on 5

Written By- Shivani Singh