[usr 4]
“Stella’s Last Weekend” is the story of two brothers whose relationship is challenged when they find they are in love with the same girl, but it is also about the unshakable bond between them.
When Jack (Nat Wolff) comes home from college, his younger brother Oliver (Alex Wolff), reveals to him that he has a new girlfriend named Violet (Paulina Singer). When Oliver invites her over, we find out that she is the same girl Jack is in love with. Soon after, Violet admits to still having feelings for Jack. While out one night, Jack and Violet share a kiss behind Oliver’s back. Because of this, when Oliver does find out, we see their relationship take a turn and unresolved issues come to surface. Jack admits to failing all of his classes at college, not feeling good enough or as smart as his dad was, the pressure to be more of a father figure to the family. Oliver reveals he does not feel as smart or cool as his older brother and gets overlooked by girls who always want his brother instead.
Meanwhile, their mother Sally (Polly Draper), who is still not over the loss of their father, is planning a goodbye party for their dying dog Stella who has just days to live. I loved the closeness between the brothers and found their quirks with each other to be very endearing. I also found the relationship that Sally shares with them interesting but believable, especially in this day and age. There doesn’t seem to be any boundaries, they speak to her like a friend, not a parent but there seems to still be an underlining trust and openness that allows them to talk to her with honesty. We see this when Jack comes to her to reveal that he kissed Violet behind Oliver’s back and she switches into the adult figure telling him to never tell his brother about it to protect his feelings.
I loved the real fights and conflicts between the brothers, how they came to resolve their issues and choose the love of family over the girl. We also see how through the death of the family dog and her new boyfriend Ron (Nick Sandow), Sally finally comes to terms with her own issues of sadness and feeling of loss.
If you love a good coming of age story, you are definitely going to enjoy this film. The storyline was solid and I loved the natural chemistry between the cast and the jokes were actually funny, I felt like anyone could relate to this movie no matter what family background you come from.
This film was written and directed by Polly Draper and starring her sons Alex and Nat Wolff. Polly stated in the Q&A following the film that when she started writing the story, it was only natural that her sons would play the brothers. This isn’t always easy to do but they did a great job!
In theaters in NY & LA October 12th
