Hick (2011)

Directed by Derick Martini
Starring Chloe Grace Moretz, Eddie Redmayne and Blake Lively
Runtime 95min. - Rated R
4 Stars (out of 4)

"Hick" is available on YouTube Movies, Vudu, and ITunes. Links posted beneath the review.

"Hick" probably doesn't need another review. However, I feel compelled to share my thoughts in an effort to stem the tide of negative criticism. "Hick" currently has a 0% rating at RottenTomatoes.com. This is a terrible injustice in my eyes. That rating is compiled from only 14 reviews. Hopefully that rating will get better as more reviews are posted.



Some people have called "Hick" a coming-of-age tale. I don't really view it that way. It features a young girl named Luli (Moretz) who runs away from home. You can't really blame her. Her dad's a drunken deadbeat and her mom is more concerned with wooing rich men than taking care of the family. Despite his drunkenness the dad really seems to love his daughter. After he finds out about the mom's extramarital activities however, he leaves them.

So Luli runs away. I mean, why not? She's had nothing but tough luck at home. How much worse can things get? A lot worse actually.

Luli decides to hitchhike her way to Las Vegas. The first to pick her up is an affable cowboy named Eddie (Redmayne). He walks with a limp. He seems to really like Luli until she calls him a gimp. He slams the brake and threatens to run her over if she uses the term again.

After that incident Luli looks for another chauffeur. This time she's picked up by Glenda (Lively), who obviously has a few tricks up her sleeve. The first thing she teaches Luli is how to properly pee while standing. The next lesson is much bigger, how to rob a convenience store. The plan is that Luli will have a fake a seizure. While the cashier is attending to her medically, Glenda will sneak in and take the money from the register. The plan looks solid to begin with. Luli asks the old man behind the counter for some Hubba Bubba. When he gets it for her, she falls to the ground and starts convulsing. The old man bends down to check on her, but instead of applying first aid he has a heart attack and collapses right on top of Luli.

That incident sets the rhythm for the rest of the film. In a nutshell, expect the unexpected. I can't recall a film where my predictions failed so miserably. It was refreshing. It was addicting. It was awesome. So many unexpected things happen that I can't begin to summarize the plot with ruining some of the magic.

The unpredictable nature of "Hick" is probably what made the film hard to swallow for many critics. Personally, I swallowed it and asked for seconds.

Coming-of-age tales usually feature a character who perseveres through difficult situations, which in the end make them stronger and more mature. This film seems quite the opposite. The character of Luli believes that she is mature and fiercely independent when her journey begins. When it concludes, that veil has been torn away to reveal a scared and innocent little girl.

If for no other reason, "Hick" deserves praise for its acting. At 15 years old, Chloe Grace Moretz is a powerhouse actress. Dakota Fanning's performances at that age seem amateur in comparison. "Hick" is just another stepping stone on the path to super-stardom for Moretz. However, it's also her best performance yet and shows a lot of emotional range. Eddie Redmayne's performance is also spectacular. The last film I saw him in was "My Week With Marilyn". He was British, an assistant on one of Monroe's films. I nearly didn't recognize him in as a limping, psychotic cowboy. He's one of those actors who can explode into emotions. Like the acting equivalent of the "Hulk".

If you decide to see "Hick", my recommendation is to strap on your seat-belt and hold on tight. It's a wild ride. It's also one you can take fairly inexpensively through V.O.D outlets. You can watch it in the comfort of your own home, no less, which is probably the best place since the film can make you feel a bit icky at times.

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