Wildflower - A Movie Review

What I want is to feel fearless.

Wildflower is a 2022 film. Bea is the daughter of mentally handicapped parents. Parenting her parents more than she should, Bea tries to have a normal life. However, she gets into an incident one night that puts her in the hospital.

I always love watching a good movie that makes me smile. Feel-good movies are essential. Wildflower is a film about living your best life and not worrying about what anybody else says about your family or yourself.

Kiernan Shipka stars as Bea, a young girl who has too many duties on her shoulders. I first saw Shipka in Totally Killer. I didn’t like the movie as much and Shipka didn’t get the best direction. Here, Shipka is amazing as Bea. Bea is stuck between being a caregiver and living her life as any teen should.

Wildflower has a notable supporting cast. Jean Smart, Jacki Weaver, Brad Garrett, Alexandra Daddario, and Reid Scott are excellent as the relatives. The families constantly argue about their kids. Their interactions (and reactions) add comedy to the story. In the middle half, they disappear to focus more on Bea.

Dash Mihok and Samantha Hyde played real-life disabilities for their roles. Derek and Sharon want to live independently. Not the most responsible, they make do with what they have. I like the family dynamic.

Family is family. For the most part, they’re happy together which is what matters. Ryan Kiera Armstrong plays Bea as a young child. She is a great young actress. The argument in the third act is well-acted as they toss around stinging remarks.

Also included in the cast is Charlie Plummer. If you have not seen Words on Bathroom Walls, you must now! Plummer is excellent both there and in this film. As Ethan, he strikes up a relationship with Bea. Due to Ethan’s history with a previous illness, he misunderstands Bea’s words leading to a heated confrontation. I hope to see Plummer in more films!

The guidance counselor and social worker both deserve shoutouts. They guide Bea with careful advice. They just want Bea to be her best. It’s okay to ask for help. We can’t do everything alone. They’re only trying to do what’s right and make situations better for all.

The film delicately balances the story, keeping a significant reveal a secret. It’s a beautiful story filled with heartwarming moments. Matt Simulder directed a well-paced story that balances family drama, emotions, and comedy. And a touch of romance as well. He keeps the film lighthearted amid the drama in the story.

Simulder spoke with a disability representative to make sure the film wasn’t hurting anyone. This film is based on an actual family. Wildflower is a chance to learn about unconventional families. It provides an example to audiences who have not been represented.

The central message of Wildflower is the idea that nobody can change family. Every family is different. What’s the exact definition of normalcy or a regular family? There’s no such definition as ‘perfect.’ We all have something going on that we prefer to keep secret. As Bea does, stand your ground and ignore what others say.

I didn’t know what to expect from the movie and now it’s become one of my favorites. Wildflower is about learning to stand your ground. It’s not just a coming-of-age drama; but a celebration of diversity in family structures.

Take a look at Wildflower. The film has great acting, a well-written script, and it will make you laugh. It’s worth a watch and it has a nice message.