Director: Ted Melfi
Cast: Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Chris O’Dowd, Naomi Wats, Scott Adsit
Running time: 102 minutes
Release date: December 26

For most people nothing is certain in life, but it certainly seems like veteran actor Bill Murray has found the key to success: being himself.

In his latest film St. Vincent, the comedic legend plays Vincent de Van Nuys, a Vietnam war veteran who has given up on anything good happening in his life.

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From the opening scene of director Theodore Melfi’s debut film, Vincent is portrayed as a curmudgeonly, at times drunken, gambler who lives in a trash-hole, with a crappy car and a genuinely miserable life.

Enter the new next-door neighbours, mother and son duo Maggie (Melissa McCarthy) and Oliver (Jaeden Lieberher).

Maggie, a new divorcee, has fled a husband who broke her heart with a long line of affairs.

She is new to being a single mum and, in a moment of what can only be described as pure desperation, agrees to let Vincent, who can see an opportunity to make some easy money, become Oliver’s babysitter.

Cue mad trips to bars, race tracks and strip clubs, and hanging out with Vincent’s pregnant Russian lover and prostitute Daka, who is well played by Naomi Watts.

But if you are expecting an about-face from Vincent that sees Oliver show him the error of his marauding ways, think again.

While St. Vincent does have an element of the cliche about it, and there are some sweet sentimental moments, what works well is that there is an appreciation from Vincent that life can be better than he has been living, but he doesn’t necessarily have an epiphany.

Murray is brilliant as the wise-ass ex-vet, who simply doesn’t give a damn about life.

McCarthy is also great in a straight role that proves she is more than her ‘funny girl’ persona lets on and Lieberher is impressive in his debut role.

A nice summer movie.

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