"Babyteeth"

2018 1h 58min

When I read the description of this film, I was a bit skeptical. Another teen suffering from a debilitating disease. But I found "Babyteeth" very moving. Indeed, a young girl Milla (Eliza Scanlen) is being treated for cancer. She comes from a fairly dysfunctional family. Her dad, (the brilliant Ben Mendelsohn), is a low-key psychiatrist who manages to keep his wife pleasantly sedated with an assortment of prescription drugs. Along comes Moses (Toby Wallace), a small-time dope dealer and all round loser. He befriends Milla, and the two of them bond, even though they have almost nothing in common. Add a sensitive, Eastern European violin teacher and a whacky pregnant neighbor to the mix, and you have all the makings of an off-beat and heart-warming story. I though Eliza's performance was nothing short of Oscar material. And Ben Mendelsohn confirmed he's one of the most underrated and underutilized actors working today.  

4 out of 5 stars