Looking for this year’s feel-good movie and likely to be overlooked Summer movie, then do not miss Hearts Beat Loud starring Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) and Kiersey Clemons (Dope, Transparent.)
In Red Hook, Brooklyn, a father, and daughter become an unlikely songwriting duo in the last summer before she leaves for college.
Maybe because I am a few years away from being an empty nester (oh what will I do??) that this movie appealed to me or maybe it’s because it upsets me that neighborhoods like Red Hook are being taken over from hipsters which leads to small businesses like Red Hook Records are going out of business due to increased rents. This gentrification has been going on across every borough for years leading to New York neighborhoods losing all their charm and unique stores to Starbucks, fancy coffee shops, drug store, big box stores and hipster stores selling artisanal (insert product here.)
Or maybe it’s because it shows a struggling single parent trying to stay afloat financially and having to think about how to keep a roof over his head.
That all said, I just love the chemistry between Nick Offerman and Kiersey Clemons as father and daughter. He is so obviously the kid and she is the adult, serious about going off to UCLA, then to med school to achieve her goal of becoming a doctor.
You can tell this is one of those Hollywood labor love a small feel-good movie that is intended to bring a smile to your face. Even with all the serious downs of the story. it still leaves with you with hope and a smile. Toni Colette as Frank’s landlady, Ted Danson, friend and “high” bar owner and Blythe Danner as Frank’s mom round out the A-List supporting cast, not bad for an indie movie.
Like last year’s breakout hit, The Big Sick, take a moment from the big Summer blockbusters and see Hearts Beat Loud.
And I love the Hearts Beat Soundtrack so much, I bought it.
P.S. Because I feel like there are some who may want to know and some who could care less. The daughter has a summer romance with a girl. Like the first teen rom-com to feature a gay lead, Love Simon, it’s treated very much like any other teen romance so there is kissing and hand-holding between the two girls. It is a PG-13 movie so it’s pretty tame in my opinion.
Hearts Beat Loud is in theatres now.
Disclosure: NYC Single Mom was not compensated for this post. That’s right, I do pay to see movies.
