Sending Him to College to be RUSHED

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from director Vibeke Muasya, writer Siobhan Fallon Hogan and Vertical Entertainment is the sadness of a son being RUSHED.

The O’Brien’s are an Irish Catholic family living in Upstate New York. Jim (Robert Patrick) is a hard-working husband and father leaving the chaotic homelife in the capable hands of wife Barbara (Siobhan Fallon Hogan). Older son Jimmy (Jay Jay Warren), daughters Kelly (Lily Rosenthal) and Ciara (Ellie Frankel) are always on the move.

Jimmy and friend Vergil (Justin Linville) are getting ready to pledge to a fraternity and mom Barbara wants to make sure he puts his best foot forward. Promising to call later if he is accepted, she sleeps by her phone to the amusement of Jim who is secretly thrilled for his son.

At the fraternity, Jimmy and Vergil are subjected to different levels of humiliation by president Steven Croission (Jake Weary). Jimmy begins to become agitated with the whole process, but the alcohol is still being pushed. When it gets to him, Croission puts the pledge into a chair but Vergil notices something is wrong.

By the end of the evening, Jimmy is in the hospital and the O’Brien family are devastated. It is Barbara who is not about to let the fraternity get away with hurting her son. Even Jim sees that his wife needs to investigate the events further in her own way until it all comes to a frightening conclusion and a twist that is shocking.

Hogan as Barbara is a woman who lives a life of family and faith. Both of those are being tested at the same time and the anger of what the fraternity did to her son leads her on a journey of listening to other mothers carrying the same pain. Hogan takes on the pain by finding others who have dealt with similar circumstances and the walls put in front of them to get justice.

Patrick as Jim is a hard-working dad who is proud of his family and son. When their world falls apart, he is the one to reach out to those who could help Barbara on her journey to help others. Strong for his family, he tries everything to help but knows that Barbara has to do things her own way to find peace.

Warren as Jimmy wanted so much to pledge a fraternity but realizes quickly that this is not what he signed up for. Pushed further and further to do more is what led him to the chair. Linville as friend Vergil also wanted to pledge and saw the same difficulties as Jimmy and he knows the truth.

Weary as Steven is a kid who has taken his role as president of a fraternity a bit too far. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and the character of Steven proves that from the pledging and beyond.

Other cast include Rusty Schwimmer as Joan, Peter Hogan as Vinny, Sean Cullen as Mr. Donohue, Peri Gilpin as Mrs. Donohue, Sinead Hogan as Jessie, Jordan Lage as the Senator, Fat Nick as Chezno, Jared Sandler as DZL, Ben Rosenthal as Tucker and Austin Patrick as Alexis.

Vertical Entertainment is a global independent distributor that offers a unique wealth of experience minus the studio costs. They have won a Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Actress for Molly Shannon’s role in OTHER PEOPLE and the film won a GLAAD Award for Outstanding Film Limited Release, Best International Film for Babak Anvari’s UNDER THE SHADOW, a BAFTA and three Independent British Independent Film Awards as well.

“I wrote the film because as a mother of three, I understand that Hell hath no fury like a mother scorned. After I completed the script, I sent it to Zentropa Films as I have worked as an actress with Lars Von Trier for over 25 years in his films, DANCER IN THE DARK, DOGVILLE and THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT. They immediately called me and agreed to co-produce the film which was fantastic. I am thrilled to have the film with Vertical Entertainment domestically and Octane Entertainment internationally,” said writer, producer and star Siobhan Fallon Hogan.

Hogan has taken on the challenge of telling the story that anyone can research on the internet and that is deaths due to hazing. Since 2000, there have been 50 deaths due to hazing with alcohol being one of the main factors. Of course, parents do not send their kids to college to die because of hazing which is where the pain exists.

The story is taken even further as Hogan decides that doing nothing is unacceptable. She cannot let her son rest without those who need to be accountable are held accountable. That is absolutely what I would expect from a mom like Barbara because I know it is absolutely what I would do. That being said, the ending is shocking!

RUSHED is a story of family, love, pain and the hopes that can turn so quickly are what fill every moment of the film. The pain that the O’Brien family endures is not just that of Barbara but Jim and the other children who are also trying to find their way through the heartache they never knew existed.  

In the end – she will fight for her family!

 

 

A Second Chance at College and Being LIFE OF THE PARTY

Jeri Jacquin

The hilarious minds of Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone are at it again along with Warner Bros. for another chance at being LIFE OF THE PARTY.

Deanna (Melissa McCarthy) and husband Dan (Matt Walsh) are dropping off daughter Maddie (Molly Gordon) for her final year at college. Excited about their upcoming trip to Italy, Deanna is thrown a curve pizza when Dan announces 50 feet from the dorm steps that he wants a divorce.

Deanna is thrown to learn that he has been having a fling with a real estate agent named Marci (Julie Bowen). Going to her own parents, Sandi (Jackie Weaver) and Mike (Stephen Root), they argue sandwiches and not finishing college. That’s when Deanna makes a decision that needs one other persons input – daughter Maddie.

Deanna announces that she is going back to school to finish the last year and get her degree in archeology. Maddie is happy but uneasy about sharing the college life with her mother. Thrilled for her is bestie Christine (Maya Rudolph) and Maddie’s friends Amanda (Adria Arjona), Debbie (Jessie Ennis) and Helen (Gillian Jacobs).

Moving into the dorm, roommate Leonor (Heidi Gardner) is a little Goth and a little sunshine deprived. Immediately, Maddie and the girls decide that Deanna needs to experience a college party. After a quick change of appearance she meets Jack (Luke Benward) and wakes to the morning walk of shame.

Quickly Deanna gets into the groove of studying, being part of the girls’ lives and occasionally meeting up with Jack. Keeping Christine informed of her antics, she learns that ex-hubby Dan is already making plans to get remarried. Leave it to the girls to make sure that she doesn’t spend that day alone but after a few party favors they take their act on the reception road.

That sets into motion the news that Deanna doesn’t have the money to finish college. Of course needing a reason to have a party in college isn’t a required but this might be the exception!

McCarthy as Deanna is sweet, charming, motherly and a tad embarrassing but don’t let that fool you when it comes to being protective. She has her ways of making sure that no one changes who she wants to be so don’t let the curls fool you. McCarthy delivers comedy that is so relatable and, in fact, the character of Deanna is someone we all know. Well, maybe not the tacky sweaters but the situation of loving being a wife and mother until you realize one of those wasn’t real. McCarthy is a gal I’d love to hang out with. Plan to laugh at the movie – A LOT!

Rudolph as Christine is the best partner-in-crime to have and will take a body shot while still loving you. Living a tad vicariously through Deanna, Christine doesn’t have it so bad at home. I mean any husband who gets hot about his middle aged wife in ankle socks doesn’t have much to complain about in life. Rudolph is funny and another chick I’d love to hang out with.

Gordon as Maddie isn’t completely thrilled to discover Mom is going to share her final year of college. Once seeing her friends are on board with it, Maddie knows Mom isn’t trying to take anything from her. Jacobs as Helen is a big disturbing and completely hilarious. Ennis as Debbie and Arjona as Amanda completely love having Deanna around. Benward as Jack loves having Deanna around for completely different reasons!

Gardner as Leonor is completely misunderstood but takes a ninja-like liking to her dorm mate. Weaver as Mom Sandi just wants everyone to have a sandwich and Dad Mike just wants to shoot Dan – typical parents.

Walsh as Dan is a dude who is literally being led around by his – ummm – earring. Bowen as Marci is a woman who demands control of every aspect of her life and her soon-to-be-husbands as well. Jones as Christine’s husband Frank goes along to get along!

Other cast includes Sarah Baker as Gildred, Nax Faxon as Lance, Shannon Purser as Connie, Chris Parnell as Mr. Truzack, Debbie Ryan as Jennifer, Jimmy O. Yang as Tyler, Leli Hernandez as Mia, Yani Simone as Trina, Damon Jones as Frank, Michele Jang as Linda, Chris Cavalier as Eugene, Christina Aguilera and Ben Falcone as the Uber Driver.

LIFE OF THE PARTY is completely hysterical, full of surprises and loaded with charm and oh so much fun. I would expect nothing less from McCarthy and Falcone who seem to just embrace the silliness of life. The cast is just perfect lending their own unique characters to a loaded film of funny. This film is perfect for the Mother’s Day weekend coming up because, well, we love our Mom’s.

This is a wonderful way to celebrate the day with a bunch of flowers, brunch and then off to the movies to spend quality time having a few giggles together. I have a sneaking suspicion I’m going to have to see the film again because there were times I was laughing so hard I missed a line or two. LIFE OF THE PARTY is a film I absolutely won’t mind seeing again and again.

In the end – give life the old college try!