Mother Couch (2023)

Mother Couch (2023). 1h 36m

“Ewan McGregoru0026#39;s mother Ellen Burstyn visits a furniture store and doesnu0026#39;t want to leave. Ever.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThatu0026#39;s the basic plot of u0026quot;Mother, Couchu0026quot;, a small and very odd film with an all-star cast.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIs the film supposed to be taken at face value or is it an allegory? Is Ellen Burstynu0026#39;s titular mother in Godu0026#39;s Waiting Room, or simply a lady who doesnu0026#39;t want to get off the couch?u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI will say that the film sits a little better now having slept on it than it did when I was actually watching it. It clocked in at only 1hr 36 min but felt way longer. There are no big moments or cinematic fireworks but rather a sober and somewhat off-beat exploration of the human condition.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMcGregor plays David, a harried and anxiety-prone family man whose unhappy life gets weirder when his elderly mother sits down on a couch at Oakbeds Furniture store and decides that sheu0026#39;s not going anywhere, come hell or high water. (We get a little bit of both).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eDavidu0026#39;s two adult siblings are of little use during this family crisis. Thereu0026#39;s the forgetful slacker Gruffeld (Rhys Ifans) and the bitter and put-upon Linda (Lara Flynn Boyle). The film exposes their toxic relationship as they try to bring their mother home. Or as Linda suggests, should they just leave her there?u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe store is about to close, but an employee has at least a temporary solution: thereu0026#39;s a bed near the couch and David can stay the night. Taylor Russell plays the pretty employee Bella and is a ray of sunshine in this dark film. Thereu0026#39;s a hint that there might be a sexual spark between she and David, but he should be so lucky.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBurstyn at 91 is one tough-as-nails broad in the central role playing a less less than sympathetic character. Sheu0026#39;s a mean mother but we can see where sheu0026#39;s coming from.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film was inspired, at least in part, by a Swedish novel called u0026#39;Mamma i soffau0026#39;. The filmu0026#39;s writer and director Niclas Larsson making his first full-length feature said at a screening I attended that he read the first 10 pages of the book when he paused and wrote his own script. Itu0026#39;s allowed, he said, as this is art. True; just donu0026#39;t look for an accurate page-to-screen adaptation.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eLarsson did assemble an absolutely stellar cast with F. Murray Abraham and Lake Bell in supporting roles.”