Meryl Streep plays a rocker who never made it big, but still gigs with her group. When her daughter (real-life daughter Mamie Gummer) hits a rough patch, mom returns home to her trio of children, who are bitter at her deserting them for her musical aspirations. The script by Diablo Cody is structurally trite with almost none of the snarky comedy that made her famous. Director Jonathan Demme has never been known for warm family stories, so this stretch is competent, but uninspired. Streep creates an interesting character and makes a pretty cool rock singer, but Gummer has some of the best moments. Without the A-list cast, this film would feel more at home on Lifetime.
(3 / 5)