The new Netflix film Luckiest Girl Alive is about Ani Fanelli, a soon-to-be editor of a reputed magazine, who thinks she has moved away from her past until it reappears in her life. The film is directed by Mike Barker and adapted from the novel of the same name.
It stars Mila Kunis in the role of the protagonist, with a supporting cast of Chiara Aurelia, Finn Wittrock, Jennifer Beals, Justin Lupe and Thomas Barbusca. Moreover, the film has a running time of one hour and fifty-five minutes with a screenplay from Jessica Knoll.
– Luckiest Girl Alive Review Does Not Contain Spoilers –
From what you can deduce from the first act, Ani Fanelli is a hyper-ambitious woman who has literally planned her road to success. She is going to be married to a high-profile businessman soon (whom she has manipulated into liking her) and also remains on the edge of a big promotion.
Although Ani’s techniques of manipulation are stereotypical, they completely work in her favour. This includes devouring a pizza when no one’s looking and suggesting many appeasement pieces to her editor.
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But beyond her passion for top-tier success lies a deep-rooted past. Flashes of which alternate throughout the film. Ani Fanelli wasn’t always the achievement-centric woman that she pretends to be in the first act; before that, she was Tifanny – a young girl who was seasoned by her mother into being likeable and attractive. The film further explores the horrors of her past and their effects on her present life.
Luckiest Girl Alive is about the staunch trauma of victims and its different interpretations by society. It ventures into the intricacies of emotions that the victims deal through and also showcases how they are perceived through the lens of public opinion. Moreover, the film is successful in the process and brings out the core aspects of the subject matter.
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Mila Kunis and Chiara Aurelia portray two different versions of Ani Fanelli, and both are on point. The arc of Kunis feels a little rushed towards the end, but overall she is pitch-perfect in the role. Especially her monologue during the wedding rehearsal and the sassy comebacks are extremely well done.
The movie gains momentum in the second half and then settles with the pace. The end face-off is one of the best moments of the film, where it peaks.
The back-and-forth representation of past events is impressive, and the narrative unfolds simultaneously with the present. Adding an intriguing element of thriller to the movie.
Moreover, one can’t help but find the inner mind conversation that Mila Kunis has at the start of the film with Christian Bale’s American Psycho (2000). This is pretty ironic in itself, given that she was part of the infamous sequel.
All in all, Luckiest Girl Alive is a great attempt at showcasing the societal line between a Victim and a Survivor.
Luckiest Girl Alive Final Thoughts
The film is a strong depiction of a sensitive subject and deserves a sincere watch. It features Mila’s powerful performance, which could have been a point higher if the screenplay lacked pacing issues. Otherwise, Luckiest Girl Alive is a film that you should definitely give a go.
The film is available to watch on Netflix. starting from October 7, 2022. Tell us your thoughts about the new Mila Kunis movie in the comment section below.
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