Harper (Mackenzie Davis) invites Abby (Kristen Stewart) to meet her parents and two sisters, all of whom are are operating under false pretenses: Abby was assured by Harper that her potential in-laws would be accepting of their “lifestyle choice,” while the clan are firm believers that a gay daughter has no place in a perfect family. So sayeth her father Ted Caldwell (Victor Garber), a city councilman running for mayor, and his fastidiously conservative wife Tipper (Mary Steenburgen). The young couple’s love, so palpably creditable at the outset, soon becomes entrenched in a sea of predictability and contrivance before ending on a touching note. As Abby’s BFF John, Dan Levy effectively walks away with the picture. (When told that Harper’s parents believe Abby to be straight, he deadpans, “Have they never met a lesbian?”) Stewart does exceptionally well at capturing the indignity involved in pretending to be something that she’s not, simply to please a handful of frivolous, closed-minded potential in-laws. And what can be said of a film in which the otherwise hair-triggered Aubrey Plaza, co-starring as Harper’s high school sweetheart, comes off as the most grounded and responsible brick in the ensemble? Clea Duvall directs. (2020) — Scott Marks
This movie is not currently in theaters.