Girl Most Likely

Kristen Wiig typical shines whenever she’s on the big screen, but her latest performance in Girl Most Likely can’t help but come off as slightly dull. She stars as Imogene, a struggling New York City playwright who fakes her own suicide in an attempt to save a failing relationship. If that’s not heartbreaking enough, she is then put into the care of her gambling addicted mother in Jersey who’s focused more about hitting the jackpot than her own daughter. As Imogene’s life spirals downward, her only consolation comes from Lee (Darren Criss) an aspiring singer who helps her get her life back on track.

Unfortunately, the movie itself never fully gets back on track after derailing early on. Every character is a misfit of some sort, from Imogene’s constant attempts at fitting into NYC’s upper echelon of high class to her mom’s no-care attitude. Her mom’s boyfriend, known simply as “The Bouche” (Matt Dillon), doesn’t help out much either as he’s too busy being a secret agent in the CIA. Finally, her brother Ralph is so socially awkward that he’s built a protective housing shell that he can live in. They all have their little quirks, but the film relies too heavily on them.

Girl Most Likely has a very dry sense of humor that tries to squeeze a laugh out of the misfortune on screen. It’s a dysfunctional family sitcom that would probably work well in 30 minute increments, but as a full film it struggles to keep pace. I love the cast of characters and everyone has at least a few shining moments. There’s just nothing all that memorable about it overall.

If you’re a fan of Kristen Wiig, you’ll get a good laugh or two out of Girl Most Likely. Other than that, there’s not much else of a reason to see the film.