Laggies - B

Rated R, 100 minutes
Wes's Grade: B

Dramedy “Laggies” a charming coming-of-age for the 20s set

If the new movie “Laggies” was an animal, it’d likely be a middle age cat: somewhat playful, predictable and usually pretty leisurely, maybe purposefully so. If you see “Laggies” you will understand that more, but it’s a charming, enjoyable coming-of-age story for late twenty-somethings in need of more adult responsibility. Solidly cast with some believable performances, it’s also predictable and rambles a little much in its mid-section, but the appealing leads keep it afloat. Overeducated and underemployed, 28 year old Megan (Keira Knightley) is in the throes of a quarterlife crisis. Squarely into adulthood with no career prospects, no particular motivation to think about her future and no one to relate to, Megan is comfortable lagging a few steps behind - while her friends check off milestones and celebrate their new grown-up status. When her high-school sweetheart (Mark Webber) proposes, Megan panics and- given an unexpected opportunity to escape for a week - hides out in the home of her new friend, 16-year old Annika (Chloë Grace Moretz) and Annika's world-weary single dad Craig (Sam Rockwell). Directed by Lynn Shelton (“Humpday”) and written by Andrea Seigel, “Laggies” is an engaging dramedy that intentionally takes time to develop its characters, buoyed by the always lovely Knightley and the sprightly Rockwell, who seemingly steps in and breathes some life into the film. Without Rockwell, whose character brims with a sarcastic honesty, the film would be less effective, particularly because the characters Rockwell and Knightly inhabit are fueled by a calculated appeal that you pick up on from the first moment their characters meet. It’s also nice seeing Moretz in a more fully realized role, and her mentor-ish relationship with Knightley’s Megan gives a film a certain edge; it’s not really a teen movie per se, but movies in which teens play an important role. Also memorable in the solid supporting cast is Mark Webber as Megan’s longsuffering, eternally optimistic boyfriend/fiance; Jeff Garlin as Megan’s imperfect father and Ellie Kemper as an honest friend. “Laggies” lags a little mid-section a little too leisurely, and a subplot involving Annika’s mother doesn’t fit perfectly in the picture, but overall it’s an affecting, entertaining coming-of-age story, with the always funny Rockwell stealing the movie.