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Cast: Meryl Streep, Rick Springfield, Kevin Kline, Mamie Gummer, Audra McDonald
Direction: Jonathan Demme
Genre: Drama
Duration: 1 hour 41 minutes
Review: Even when off the stage and not singing cover versions with her band in a tiny pub to a small but appreciative audience, Ricki (her real name's Linda) remains in black leather. She slurs and sways in Keith Richards-like rocker fashion and looks totally out of place in Pete's sprawling, tastefully-furnished home. Pete however, has long since moved on with a new wife, Maureen (McDonald), who treats Pete and Ricki's children as if they were her own.
Regardless of her rockstar accoutrements, Ricki's maternal instincts kick in as she spends time with her daughter Julie (Gummer). Julie went into a tailspin after her husband left her. She's also pretty pissed off with Linda for not being around and flatly tells Linda that her rocker chic makes her look like a cheap hooker.
In time, the mother and daughter do bond, thanks to a lot of TLC from Linda, who also didn't know that one of her sons is gay and that the other son will soon marry.
Linda knows however, that while Ricki is her stage name, it's more than just a persona; it is her life and soul. Streep's presence in Ricki elevates what could have been a fairly ordinary family drama into something that is refreshingly different.
The performances are mostly solid. Real-life rocker Springfield plays Ricki's bandmate and lover. And Gummer's screen presence is credible and good. Some of the film's best scenes involve her. But by the end of the film, you might find yourself wondering if Streep (she plays and sings for real here) really is in a rock n' roll band on the side. Yes, she's that convincing.
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