"Welcome to Me" is a weird little movie. It seems to be a sharp satire, which follows one woman's dreams of having her own talk show.
It's not that simple, however. Kristen Wiig stars as Alice Klieg, who has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Alice is a TV fanatic, especially when it comes to talk shows. She greets her television as if it were a person and tells everyone that her TV hasn't been shut off in 11 years. She has watched all of Oprah's shows longingly, hoping to one day have her own talk show.
When Alice wins $86 million on a lottery ticket, she marches down to a local TV station and inquires about buying her own talk show. The producers, Gabe and Rich (Wes Bently and James Marsden), tell her it will cost millions of dollars to run 100 episodes at two hours a piece. Without even thinking, Alice writes the struggling station a check.
Not everyone is on board with Alice's talk show. Gabe has his objections, as does the show's director, Dawn (Joan Cusak). Rich continually entertains the idea of Alice's show because the station will have to cut their staff if they do not cash her check.
Directed by Shira Piven (sister of "Entourage" star Jeremy Piven) and written by Eliot Laurence, "Welcome to Me" functions as an exploration of one women's mental illness. The film could have taken cheap shots at Alice because she does create some cringe-inducing moments. The movie never makes fun of Alice for wanting to make a wacky show and as uncomfortable as it gets sometimes, the show is freeing for Alice. Coupled with the showbiz satire of sorts, "Welcome to Me" finds a balance at telling Alice's story and commenting on audiences' insatiable thirst for outlandish TV.
Wiig plays every side of Alice perfectly. Wiig's post-SNL career has been so exciting to watch and I applaud the actress for taking on the series of challenging roles she has. Between "The Skeleton Twins" and "Welcome to Me", Wiig has not cashed in on her "Bridesmaids" success by making a sequel to the hilarious hit film. She challenges herself as an actress and "Welcome to Me" might be her best work to date.
The film doesn't always paint Alice as likable, as she pushes her best friend (Linda Cardellini) away or when she spars with her therapist (Tim Robbins). But the movie doesn't condemn Alice for having a wild dream or wanting to ride in on a swan car every time she enters her show. It simply presents a woman with a disorder and tells her story. It is quite refreshing.
| Movie title | Welcome to Me |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2015 |
| MPAA Rating | R |
| Our rating | |
| Summary | Kristen Wiig shines as a mentally ill lottery winner who buys her own talk show. |
