Gifted was a heartwarming movie about an uncle, Frank Adler played by Chris Evans, raising his incredibly smart mathematical niece Mary, played by McKenna Grace. Frank cares for his niece after the tragic suicide of his sister. After Mary’s teacher discovers her mathematical abilities, she reaches out to Frank and they grow a romantic relationship. Things come to a halt after Frank’s estranged mother tries to gain custody of Mary for her personal use of solving a historic equation which she tried with her daughters years prior.
When the movie began I was a bit hesitant. I thought the movie was going to be predictable and just overall corny. However, it was a bit of a tear jerker. There were various moments when you could see Frank showing his vulnerable side and how much he loved Mary. He wanted the best for Mary and wanted to raise her how he imagined his sister would want her to be raised. The movie also had a lot of sarcastic humor that I enjoyed.
My favorite thing about this movie would be the fact that it was not all about Frank’s romance with Mary’s teacher. As soon as they introduced the teacher, Bonnie, played by Jenny Slate, I thought to myself “they are definitely going to fall in love and the whole film will transition to their affair.” However, I am so glad I was mistaken because it was not exclusively about them and the plot managed to stay the same with minor encounters of their relationship.
If I were to explain this movie to someone verbally, it would sound like the most basic film about another kid genius. Although I personally enjoyed it, I probably would not watch it again and Hollywood probably could have done without it. The acting and chemistry amongst all the characters was great but the plot was a bit lackluster. Everyone loves a happy love story and that is exactly what this movie entails. This is more of a film for a couple on date night. Gifted was pretty emotional but it was also one of those movies where you know everything will fall into place at the end. The only reason I do not call it predictable is because in the end, the controlling grandmother, played by Lindsay Duncan, gets what she has always wanted, the solved math equation. Also, Mary decides to do both things she enjoys, playing with friends and taking college classes.
The scenery and the set were pretty cool. They designed Frank’s home and neighborhood in a country setting to mold his personality. His home was a bit cluttered but livable. Not so much a bachelor’s pad because of Mary but a comforting environment for him and Mary.
The wardrobe also fit their environment and country setting. Frank was all about plain t-shirts and jeans. The wardrobe department also did a good job with taking his personality to fit his court outfit. They wanted Frank to look professional but also a bit casual so they put him in a plain shirt along with a tie rather than a full suit.
The dialogue of the movie was so comprehensive and made to make the audience feel sad for Frank along with understanding his struggles with Mary. All of the emotional scenes felt so real and as if Chris Evans and McKenna Grace were really family. The movie almost made me want to see what happens in the future with their relationship and how Mary is maintaining her intelligence. However, I am glad the movie did not leave on a cliff hanger and rather questions I could ask myself internally and make scenarios for myself. A sequel to Gifted would be totally unnecessary.
This Blu-ray also comes with seven features. These features include clips of behind the scenes content along with deleted scenes and more details about the movie. My favorite feature was the “inside the equation feature”. It discussed how the director wanted everything to look as real as possible. Also, it was exciting to see and have the cast explain that it is okay for girls to be smart and this movie emphasizes that throughout the film. This specific feature is a really nice clip especially for younger girls watching the movie. The other features are just as interesting and is an enlightening bonus that continues the tone of the movie.
I would recommend this movie to couples going to a Saturday night movie for date night. I would also recommend it for friends gathering together deciding what to watch in the midst of boredom. The movie can be seen as a motivating tool to appreciate your loved ones. Also, a way to drive yourself to do what you love and overcome hardships in your life.
