Director: Phil Dorling and Ron Nyswaner
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Melissa Leo and Tracy Morgan
Rating: ***1/2
How many times in your respective lives have things gone completely wrong and you asked yourself – why stop now! I’m sure you must have had such moments more than once or at least once in your life. This Jesse Eisenberg starrer flick, co-starring Melissa Leo and Tracy Morgan explicitly deals with one such moment in their lives when they asked each other – why stop now? From writer-director Ron Nyswaner and Phil Dorling comes one of the heart-touching films of this year that will make you laugh, driving across a warm sensation into your heart.
On the day of his audition to Piano school, Eli, an aspiring musician should drop his siste
r off at school and check his mother into rehab so that he could drive all the way to Boston, which is four hours away. Unfortunately, Penny is barred admittance into rehab due to a failed urine test and now she, along with Eli, should go find her drug dealer, get high to get admitted into rehab. Eli, Penny and the drug dealer Sprinkles embark on a life changing adventure that is insanely funny.
You simply can’t ignore ‘Why Stop Now’ because the story is so close to heart. I firmly believe the success of any film lies solely in its simple and honest story that can be embraced with arms wide open, above everything else. This film boasts a simple story; honest acting that is not intended to be funny but will make you smile throughout. You’re confronted with questions such as the importance of prioritizing, how to keep cool when things go out of control and finally to acknowledge family members as they are. You’ll figure out answers to these questions by the end of the film however how will you react if you’re faced with similar questions in your own life is a question you need ask yourself.
Its true Jesse Eisenberg skyrocketed to the status of an acclaimed star after
the success of ‘ The Social Network’. But, much before this film he starred in films like ‘Adventureland’, ‘Zombieland’ and ‘Holly Rollers’ and proved his mettle both as an actor and comedian. With ‘Why Stop Now’ he’s taken his image marginally high and gives his fans one more film to cherish in his name. Melissa Leo aka Penny plays a struggling, over protective drug addict, a role very similar to the one she played in ‘The Fighter’ and boy she makes her role appear so convincing. Tracy Morgan aka Sprinkles is as usual at his best and shares some hilarious moments with Jesse that brilliantly in the film’s favor.
Although ‘Why Stop Now’ is part hilarious and part emotional, the film subtly underlines a very important message that is presented towards the end by Tracy Morgan. An ex-athlete in the film, Tracy turns into drug peddler because he couldn’t protect his dream. He warns Jesse to protect his dream and never give up come what may. So, to all my readers, here’s something I want you take home and ponder – when things get fucked up, ask yourself – why stop now, and I’m sure you’ll accumulate all the strength to make things straight.
