Chapter forty-seven: Ricki and the Flash

Hello again! I hope you had a nice Christmas if you celebrate. I know I certainly did. It snowed just in time where I live, which was truly lovely. Have you ever noticed when it snows outside that it's neither sunny nor cloudy, just sort of this luminescent glow all around? Or, am I the only person who thinks like that? I don't know. Regardless, let's dive in, shall we? We've only got a couple of entries to go before the new year. I hope you'll like this one.

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Ricki Rendazzo (Meryl) is a rockstar playing a nightly gig at a bar in California with her band, the Flash. She's the lead singer in a band of five, including lead guitarist Greg (Rick Springfield.) She's also from Indianapolis, Indiana, which I didn't know before watching the movie, but realized pretty quickly when her band played songs that I knew by heart courtesy of my father's musical stylings: Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones, U2, and so forth. Ultimately, she left her family to pursue her dream and absorbs herself into the atmosphere, leather jacket, braided hair, eye makeup, and all.

Back home, her daughter, Julie (played by Meryl's actual daughter Mamie Gummer,) was recently heartbroken after her fiance Max (Gabriel Ebert) called off their engagement because he was in love with another girl. Ricki's ex-husband, Pete (Kevin Kline,) is unable to get through to their daughter, so he reaches out to Ricki. It's been years since they've spoken, but she takes the call and hops on the nearest airplane to Indianapolis.

Julie's worse off than Ricki thought. With stains on her sweatpants, food wrappers in the pockets of her sweatshirt, and tangled hair that screams, "I haven't showered in weeks!" She pretty much looks like I have all throughout quarantine. But, Ricki is able to help her. They have a spa day in place of Julie's therapy session, which isn't working anyway, and use the time confiding and buying Julie a new wardrobe, which is similar to the tight, flashy things Ricki wears. When asked how she did it, Ricki answers,

"Sometimes, a girl just needs her mother."

This is true.

Later, Ricki gives Max a piece of her mind.

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Meanwhile, after gaining back her daughter's trust, Ricki finds out that her son Josh (Sebastian Stan) is getting married, and she wasn't invited to the wedding because nobody thought she would come. This, as you can imagine, makes the family dinner really awkward. On top of which, Ricki's younger son, Adam (Nick Westrate,) is gay, and she's just now finding out... I would not want to be in that restaurant.

Near the same time, Ricki comes face-to-face with Pete's current wife, Maureen (Audra McDonald.) They don't get along too well. Maureen is very wealthy and can provide for the family in a way that Ricki never could or did. Feeling like she's overstayed her welcome, Ricki heads back to California and resumes her gigs.

By this point, she and Greg are a serious item, but it's very difficult for Ricki to come to terms with the fact that she screwed up her one shot at mothering. Knowing this affects her professionally. But, a second chance comes when Maureen mails her a wedding invitation.

Ricki goes to the wedding, but not without her signature flare. She takes her band along with her, and her wedding gift to her son is a performance of My Love Will Not Let You Down by Bruce Springsteen as the movie fades out.

"I was not a traditional mother,

she admits,

but I am a musician."

It's one of those big wedding scenes where everybody dances, has a good time, and all is forgiven - I love those.

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So, that's the movie. It's really fun! There's lots of recognizable music in it, which by this point, I'm sure you know I like, but overall, the message pertains to family. Family is the greatest, most significant bond one will ever have.

As always, thank you for the entertainment, Meryl.