Synopsis
In 1973, when Frank Bledsoe and his 18-year-old niece Beth take a road trip from Manhattan to Creekville, South Carolina for the family patriarch's funeral, they're unexpectedly joined by Frank's lover Walid.
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Cast
- Paul BettanyFrank Bledsoe
- Sophia LillisBeth Bledsoe
- Peter MacdissiWalid "Wally"
- Steve ZahnMike Bledsoe
- Judy GreerKitty Bledsoe
- Margo MartindaleMammaw Bledsoe
- Stephen RootMac Bledsoe
- Lois SmithAunt Butch
- Jane McNeillNeva Bledsoe
- Caity BrewerMarsha
Recommendations
- 80
Film Threat
There are some intense, heartbreaking moments in this film, but I am glad to say that the ending is not as sad as it could have been. - 70
Variety
Uncle Frank recalls plenty of prior coming-out (and coming-of-age) sagas, but revisits their familiar terrain with a confident and skilled mix of humor and character-dynamic shorthand. - 70
Arizona Republic
Bettany is outstanding. He infuses Frank with just the right amount of inner turmoil and confusion as he tries to balance his love for his family with the wounds they have inflicted upon him — and as he tries to come to terms with his own identity among them. - 67
The Film Stage
For the first half of the picture, Bettany’s soft, contemplative performance investigates Frank’s self-hatred with such beauty that the re-introduction of the rest of the family feels like a detriment, despite the talent of the cast. - 60
The Guardian
It is a frustrating filmgoing experience, but still one worthy of your time for the acting alone. - 60
Empire
Its mix of coming-of-age and homecoming stories doesn’t fully gel, but Uncle Frank is a funny and entertaining road movie with likeable performances – just brace for a closing dollop of sentimentality. - 50
IndieWire
While there are a few truly moving detours along the way . . . Uncle Frank fumbles through its fairy-tale finale so fast that it sours everything that came before. - 50
Screen Daily
It’s not simply that Uncle Frank becomes just another road-trip comedy — it’s that Ball resorts to clichéd or contrived narrative devices to keep the story going.
