Laggies is a so-so movie made watchable because of its stellar cast. The filmmakers should feel lucky that Keira Knightley, Chloë Grace Moretz and a guy named Sam Rockwell got talked into gracing this one with their presence.
Directed by Lynn Shelton and written by Andrea Seigel, the film tells the story of Megan (Knightley), a woman in her late 20s who is still spinning signs for her dad’s business. When her boyfriend (Mark Webber) proposes, and she sees her dad (Jeff Garlin) cheating on her mom shortly thereafter, it all proves to be a bit much for her—and she splits.
After illegally buying alcohol for young Annika (Moretz), Megan winds up at Annika’s house, where Annika’s dad, Craig (Rockwell), is sulking after his wife left him high and dry. Predictably, Megan becomes a mother figure to Annika while falling in love with Craig.
Rockwell could be star in a remake of Roberto Benigni’s Pinocchio and still make the thing interesting. He’s the sort of dynamic actor who can elevate material like this; his scenes with Knightley have a lot of life. Moretz always does a good job of playing a dazed teenager, as she does here.
I can’t help but think that all of this talent could’ve been off somewhere else making a better movie, but as it stands, Laggies has its charms thanks to their involvement.
Special Features: You get a director’s commentary and some deleted scenes.