Ricki & The Flash

Being a bit of an ageing rocker myself, I could relate to the character of Ricki Rendazzo, played by Meryl Streep, who had left her husband and three children behind to follow the Rock’n’Roll dream. Ever the consummate professional, Meryl learnt to play guitar for this movie, and also does a creditable job of singing the many great covers of classic rock (interspersed with a couple of more current numbers from Pink and Lady Gaga). Meryl’s real-life daughter, Marnie Gummer, plays Ricki’s estranged daughter Julie, whose marriage has just broken up, leaving her emotionally distraught and suicidal. Kevin Kline as Ricki’s ex-husband and Rick Springfield as Greg – her boyfriend and guitarist in the band The Flash – both put in good performances. This was a ‘feel good’ story about a fractured family who come together in the end. I enjoyed it.