May 11, 2012 10:00 pm US/Pacific
Girl In Progress starring Eva Mendes.
Beverly Hills, CA -
"Girl In Progress," released on Mother's Day Weekend, stars Eva Mendes, Matthew Modine, Eugenio Derbez, Patricia Arquette and Cierra Ramirez
with Patricia Riggen directing. Set in present day, the story is one that could be found most anywhere. A comedy-drama, "Girl In Progress,"
is a tale of setting (and resetting) one's path as it has been laid out by life choices.
Grace (Eva Mendes) is an overworked, under-appreciated, flighty, single mom to daughter Ansiedad. Ansiedad (Cierra Ramirez)
is extremely intelligent, highly analytical; and, a precocious teenager who desperately needs the attention of her mother.
Grace has forgone her goal of becoming a licensed beautician and has chosen instead to juggle extra jobs in order to make
ends meet and keep her daughter in a private school. She is also involved with a married man, Dr. Harford (Matthew Modine).
While Grace keeps busy with work and the not-so-good doctor, Ansiedad is introduced to the classic coming-of-age stories,
by her English teacher, Ms. Armstrong (Patricia Arquette). Inspired by these classical stories, Ansiedad plots her own
coming-of-age story with the intention of skipping her adolescence and beginning her adult life sans Grace.
With the help of her dearest friend, Tavita (Raini Rodriguez), Ansiedad begins her journey to "adulthood." In the beginning,
it seems that all is going according to plan; however, as her coming-of-age story nears its climax, everything begins to unravel.
Meanwhile, Grace's life is also turning on its ear: from money problems to the affair to losing touch with Ansiedad; and, it
is all beginning to take a toll.
Both Grace and Ansiedad find themselves face-to-face with a choice: Where do they go from here?
"Girl In Progress" addresses the age-old journey of the development of youth into maturity. Ansiedad's choice to attempt
the trek by way of logical, cognitive step-by-step advances - as opposed to the random process of life experience - made
for a most interesting interpretation on the subject.
Had the storyline not been kept in a box, "Girl In Progress" could have most definitely had a broader appeal and thus would
have reached a wider audience. This present-day coming-of-age story was somewhat marred by the seemingly stereotypical interpretations.
Eva Mendes has the ability to transcend stereotypical barriers and carry a project on her acting merit alone. Had she been given the
opportunity to do so in "Girl In Progress," the story would have been more than a narrative, it would have become a timeless homage
to motherhood, childhood and the relationships that progress with mothers and daughters.
Film: Girl In Progress
Distributor: Lionsgate / Pantelion Films
Directed by: Patricia Riggen
Starring: Eva Mendes, Matthew Modine, Eugenio Derbez, Patricia Arquette and Cierra Ramirez
Release date: May 11th, 2012
Total Running Time: 90 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexual content including crude references, and drinking - all involving teens.
Gus Summers is the Host and Broadcast Producer for The "IN Show, an entertaining broadcast that covers all things exciting and enlightening.
When Gus isn't busy covering current events and interesting people, you'll see him out and about enjoying all that the City of Angels has to offer.
For any questions, comments, or program ideas, he can be reached at gus@theinshow.com.
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All Rights Reserved.
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