A Thought Provoking, Deft Touching, Heartfelt and Uplifting sentimental biographical comedy-drama that blends well on a difficult subject matter of racism

Rating: 8/10 (23 February 2019)

Peter Farrelly, who is mostly associated with his quirky, slightly offensive comedy and romantic comedy films that he usually directs with his fellow brother - Bobby, such as Dumb and Dumber and There's Something About Mary, makes a solo heartfelt, pragmatic and humanistic direction (that marks a stark contrast of his directions on the comedy) while tackling down difficult subject matters of racism into the filmmaking, making it as relevant to the today's divisive political background and at the same time, blending well with comedy into the narrative.
While the story is nothing short but meaningful, compelling, nuanced, and thought-provoking, it also resembled some similarity to Driving Miss Daisy, in which the narrative of a black driving for the white is now role-reversed with a white driving for the black, which is somehow problematic but is nevertheless outright entertaining. Furthermore, its display of an unconventional friendship between a black and white is also convincing.
But what truly serves as the film's shining quality was of the exceptional, charismatic and superb performances, and chemistry of Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali in their performances of Tony Lip and Don Shirley, both of which really nailed the perfectly comedic timing as well as the earthly dramatic performances in every scene of which they dominate and can be summed up as a total knockout.
Yet, the film can't be described as truly perfect as it has its share of flaws, most particularly into the story's blatant historical inaccuracies, which focused onto the relationship of Shirley to his family and to Tony Lip that were being misinterpreted into the translation to the film, as well as its perceived white savior narrative. In addition, the story is also predictable especially to the third act. Other issues that plagued this film is mostly focused onto the pacing that can be uneven and quite dragging as well the editing which also looks uninteresting and cliched.
Still, the film is yet worth watching and makes it as an heartfelt and entertaining experience especially to any group of friends that can relate to its story and is no doubt serves as one of the best films of 2018.