Late Bloomers Review: Karen Gillan Shines as a Limping Brooklynite (2024)

Breaking one's hip is usually reserved for folks who lived through the 1970s and beyond. Yes, this claim could prove a bit controversial, especially to those youngsters out there who've suffered that very injury. It happened to the screenwriter of Late Bloomers, now in theaters, and Guardians of the Galaxy star Karen Gillan is the one portraying the mishap on the big screen. Gillan last starred in Sleeping Dogs, and her bumbling Brooklynite persona Louise in Late Bloomers is a far cry from her Jumanji role and Guardians, to put it mildly. But that's not to say she's not equally, if not more, appealing to watch in this new indie comedy-drama of hers.

After the aforementioned serious injury leaves her bedridden next to a crotchety old Polish woman (the pitch-perfect Malgorzata Zajaczkowska), Louise forms a bond with a different generation that proves true connection knows no bounds. Late Bloomers will make you laugh, cry, and wince in the best ways, even if it's a tale we've seen before in some form or another.

Late Bloomers Features Great Chemistry Between Gillan and Stein

Late Bloomers

Not Yet Rated

3.5/5

Release Date

June 7, 2024

Director

Lisa Steen

Cast

Karen Gillan , Margaret Sophie Stein , Jermaine Fowler , Kevin Nealon , Talia Balsam

Runtime

1h 29m

Main Genre

Drama

Pros

• A terrific leading performance by Gillan.
• Gillan and Stein's chemistry is hilarious and authentic.
• Solid supporting turns by Nealon, Fowler, and Twarowska.

Cons

• Late Bloomers uses story tropes we've seen before.
• The flashbacks with Louise and her mom can be jarring and unclear.

What might you do to win your ex back? Drink yourself silly and climb their window sill? It might not end well. Louise is exhibit A, but there is an old expression that goes, "No pain, no gain." Louise is one of those hard-drinking types you might come across in a neighborhood like Brooklyn. When she guzzles too much and tries to claw at her former lover's window, her catalytic great fall – literally – sets in motion a journey on multiple levels (emotional, spiritual, physical) to reclaim her life and dignity.

But first, it reduces her to a hospital ward normally reserved for middle-aged and elderly folk, like Antonina (Zajaczkowska, whose Americanized stage name is Margaret Sophie Stein). Louise shares a room with her, and the elderly Polish woman who speaks not one word of English will instead send daggers via her cold death stares. They're a riot, by the way, and Gillan's comedic chemistry with Stein is a primary reason to stick with this little indie that could.

Another highlight comes in the form of Antonina's grown-up granddaughter Sylvia, in a standout performance by fellow Polish performer Michelle Twarowska (Fatal Attraction, The Gray Man). Sylvia is no stranger to social cues, despite English being her second language here in the U.S., and she notices that her stubborn grandma might even take a liking to the well-meaning Louise after they spend a streak of days together in the hospital. Watch out for Louise's hysterical exchange with the doctor, meanwhile, who claims her needed hip surgery is basically unheard of for folks her age (a ripe 28). Once Louise and Antonina recover from their injuries in unison, Louise reluctantly takes Sylvia's job offer to become her grandmother's caretaker of sorts. Here we go!

Kevin Nealon, Jermaine Fowler and More

Also along for the ride are some other familiar faces, such as Ricky Stanicky standout Jermaine Fowler as Louise's charming but lazy roommate Brick, who coasts off his popstar dad's cushy finances. Louise and Brick's occasionally hilarious, not-so-sexual chemistry is another comedic high point in the film, especially when Louise's crippled hip plays into the attempted eroticism. Plus, Orange Is the New Black fans will enjoy seeing Lori Tan Chinn as Inez, one of the women recovering alongside Louise and Antonina in the hospital's rehab center. And when it's just Gillan and Stein butting heads at home post-hospital, there are several slapstick moments, one of which involves adult diapers you won't want to miss.

In terms of supporting cast, there's comedy household name Kevin Nealon (Happy Gilmore) as Louise's dad, Al, but brace yourself for his more serious turn here. And it turns out to be a smashing success – a surprisingly hard-hitting and heartfelt portrayal, especially for a guy we're so used to cackling at on the big screen. Gillan and Nealon share some tender moments, particularly regarding her mom, Dorothy (Talia Balsam), who is suffering catastrophically from dementia. That's when the tissues will come in handy, as Gillan learns some lessons about the value of family in trying to take good care of Antonina. Don't forget your roots, they say, and it's perhaps never too late to rekindle, no matter the age or disease at hand. From Vertical, Late Bloomers is now playing in theaters.