Uncle Frank

New on Amazon Prime Video.

Written and directed by Alan Ball, Uncle Frank is set in 1972 where we find Beth heading to New York and university a decision she made when inspired to try to be the person she wanted to be by her lecturer Uncle, Frank. While in New York she visits him at a party and discovers he is gay, a secret he has kept from his South Carolina family. When Frank discovers his father, Beth’s grandfather, has passed away, they chose to take a road trip to the funeral. Throughout the journey and the funeral Frank has to confront his past and his relationship with his family.

Uncle Frank isn’t surprising and really is the film you expect, a road trip, a journey of discovery, the painful reliving of past trauma and its uncomfortable impact on the present, all wrapped up with suitably pleasing ending.

However, none of its predictability detracted from a film I really enjoyed, while it unmercifully tugs on your heartstrings, I didn’t mind a bit, the performances are beautiful, fantastically balanced, Paul Bettany as the titular Frank, Sophia Lillis as Beth and Peter Macdissi as Frank’s partner Wally, all juggling emotion and humour seamlessly. While those three carry most of the film, the support throughout is excellent.

What Uncle Frank lacks for in originality, for me, it makes up for in warmth and heart, with a selection of characters who you care for and care about and while it ticks all of the boxes you expect it does it in a very enjoyable way.

Enjoyed it lots, give it a spin.