St. Vincent (Theodore Melfi, 2014)

When making a Wes Anderson-lite comedy driven by slightly off-kilter characters doing slightly off-kilter things, be sure to cast Bill Murray, who brings the twin benefits of getting the target audience and bringing the requisite hangdog air and likability, even when cast as a misanthrope, as here. His Vincent is a curmudgeonly and broke pensioner, dreaming of a big win on the horses while caring for his dementia-stricken wife and reluctantly taking his single-parent neighbour's bullied son under his wing. The chemistry between these two forms the backbone of a slight story and its best scenes, with some crisp dialogue between the pair enlivening fairly standard set-ups. It's gentle fun until drifting into schmaltz after Murray suffers a stroke and effectively becomes a toothless presence.

5/10