Precious and rare is a heartstring-tugging comedy that manages to earn both its laughs and its emotion—but co-writer/director Sean Anders pulls from his own experience as a foster parent to deliver a genuinely satisfying surprise. Ellie (Rose Byrne) and Sam (Mark Wahlberg) are a childless couple heading into their 40s who somewhat impulsively decide to foster a trio of siblings: 15-year-old Lizzy (Isabela Moner), anxious Juan (Gustavo Quiroz) and tantrum terror Lita (Julianna Gamiz). Anders pitches his humor at a tart-tongued sweet spot between his bawdy comedies like
Sex Drive and adorable-kid smiles, and finds great moments for supporting cast members like Tig Notaro and Octavia Spencer (as the foster-parent agency case workers) and Margo Martindale (as Wahlberg’s mom). What takes it up a notch, though, is a recognition of the roller-coaster of successes and failures in this kind of non-traditional family, captured in simple moments like Ellie awkwardly adjusting how close to Lizzy it feels appropriate to sit. At 120 minutes, it threatens to wear out its welcome a touch; it’s also as honest and funny a public-service announcement for foster parenting as you could hope for.
By
Scott Renshaw