Watch Our Very Own
- NR
- 2005
- 1 hr 46 min
-
6.0 (531)
Our Very Own, released in 2005, is a coming-of-age drama set in a small town in Tennessee during the mid-20th century. The movie is directed by Cameron Watson with stars like Allison Janney, Keith Carradine, Cheryl Hines, and Jason Ritter in lead roles. The story begins with five high school seniors, all living in a small town where the biggest event is the annual tomato festival. Mona (played by Juliette Lewis), is a former beauty queen stuck in a dead-end marriage who is trying to find meaning in her life. Her daughter, Clancy (played by Autumn Reeser), is a budding actress who dreams of leaving the small town behind and making it big in Hollywood.
Mary Elizabeth (played by Hines), Mona's best friend, is a single mother struggling to make ends meet. Sensitive and caring, she wants nothing more than to provide a better life for her son, Bobbie. Glen (played by Carradine), Mona's high school sweetheart and owner of the local service station, is still in love with Mona and has never moved on from their past.
Finally, there is Odette (played by Janney), a middle-aged woman who dreams of a better life and constantly wonders if there isn't more to life than what she currently has. Over the course of one summer, the lives of these five people become intertwined and their secrets and ambitions are revealed.
The movie delves deep into the lives of its characters, who are all struggling to find their place in the world. It explores their relationships, hopes, and dreams, their regrets and the heartaches they've gone through. It also tackles themes like class, identity, ambition, love, loss, and how difficult it is to leave a small town behind.
The acting is superb and the characters are all fully realized and nuanced, making them feel real and relatable. Allison Janney, in particular, delivers a standout performance as Odette, who steals every scene she's in with her wit, humor, and poignancy.
The cinematography is also worth noting, as it captures the beauty of the small town, its laid-back lifestyle, and the warmth of its residents. The movie is steeped in nostalgia, with the 1950s setting adding to its charm and sense of timelessness.
Although the movie has a slow pace, it does a great job of building up the relationships between the characters and fleshing out their backstories. The scenes are well-crafted and thoughtfully executed, with each one adding another layer to the complex story. The soundtrack is also well-chosen, with songs that perfectly complement the tone of the movie and create an atmosphere of longing and melancholy.
Overall, Our Very Own is a heartfelt and poignant movie about the struggles of small-town life, the pursuit of dreams, and the resilience of the human spirit. It's a movie that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt stuck in a small town or struggled to find their place in the world. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys character-driven dramas with strong performances and a nostalgic feel.
Our Very Own is a 2005 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 46 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.0.