Review by Caitlin Zeigler
Nicole Stevens (Tessa Thompson) works part-time as a correctional officer, while also caring for her needy mother (Whoopi Goldberg). When Nicole’s boss Warden Borden (Erik Griffin) asks her to transport inmate Joan Anderson (Melissa Leo) to visit her dying mother, Nicole reluctantly agrees. Warden Borden tells Nicole that if she proves herself, there may be a full-time job waiting for her. What was supposed to be a simple job transporting a woman to see her dying mother turns into a life-changing adventure for Nicole and Joan. Rounding out the cast is Edgar Ramirez as Kevin Rivera, Lala Anthony as Nicole’s sister Brandy and Anna Paquin as the daughter Joan has never met, Lily Benson.
It seems like it’s a nicely wrapped movie with quick editing, which can be good and bad. On the one hand, it follows a very specific and straightforward formula. On the other hand, it doesn’t give you all of this extra unnecessary filler. You know that Joan is going to be a handful and Nicole is going to have to step up to prove herself and also to try and not lose her job. It’s funny, a little bit dramatic and very relatable. It does have some parts where you’re like that would never happen in real life, but this is a film. I liked it because I think most people will relate to Nicole, balancing a job, a difficult parent and not much time for your own life. I also liked it because even if some of the things wouldn’t happen in real life, they were still funny to see. It’s a nice little feel good film that’ll probably leave you feeling content.
