Edie Falco is on a journey of self-discovery in the film I’ll Be Right There. Falco plays Wanda, a mother of two grown children who is constantly juggling being there for her kids as well as her sick mother.
It’s hard to tell at first if she’d have it any other way, but either way, it’s clear her life revolves around helping her family — whether they need it or not. Her family, meanwhile, has come to count on that help, and she doesn’t get a whole lot in return.
The film carries the audience through everyday moments with Wanda running from place to place, person to person, helping and being there for them while she can. She drives them around, offers emotional support, and tries to fix problems beyond her control.
She’s there for her mother, who thinks she’s dying but is also trying to live her best life in and out of casinos. She’s there for her daughter, who is eight months pregnant and planning a wedding that Wanda may not be able to afford. Her son has also been in and out of rehab, and all of that is just the tip of the iceberg.
Wanda is juggling two romantic relationships, neither of which seems to be right for her. What those relationships do, instead, is add to her stress and the lack of time she has to figure out who she is outside of everyone else.
Edie Falco’s performance with all of this, particularly in the subtle moments, is perfect. She’s also supported by a stellar cast, with Bradley Whitford, Michael Rapaport, Jeannie Berlin, Kayli Carter, Charlie Tahan, and Michael Beach all moving her along on her journey of discovery in their own ways.
It’s a relatable story with everyday problems and decently well-rounded characters, though a little more time spent with each would have allowed the viewer to be a bit more invested.
It’s too bad we don’t see more of the relationship dynamics between Wanda and each of her children. Still, the audience can’t help but be invested in Wanda and the way she tries to hold everyone together.
After all, the story isn’t about those other characters. It’s about Wanda, who has gotten used to saying, “I’ll be right there,” as the title of the film suggests. She’s good at being there for her family.
Beyond that, she’s good at being there for other people, including a neighbor she barely knows. This is a woman whose identity is built around being there for other people, and she’s well aware of that fact.
But there’s a breaking point where she needs to start letting go, not only for her own sake but for theirs as well. And that’s the real journey this character has to go on.
Really, it’s a character study. Though the moments are small, the film takes Wanda through some significant changes that force her to re-examine herself.
It’s lovely to watch her go on that journey, especially considering that the center of the film’s focus is on a middle-aged woman who’s at a turning point in her life — something we don’t see on screen nearly enough.
I’ll Be Right There is available in theaters.
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Ashley Bissette Sumerel
Ashley is the Editor-in-Chief of Eulalie Magazine. Favorite Movies: Sunset Boulevard, Garden State, Modern Times. Favorite TV Shows: Gilmore Girls, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Grey's Anatomy. Favorite Books: Interview with the Vampire, Dracula, City of Glass.
