Susan Granger’s review of “What Alice Found” (Factory Films)
When 18 year-old Alice (Emily Grace) escapes from the bleakness of her home and job in New Hampshire, ostensibly to visit a high-school friend in Florida, she embarks on a totally unexpected coming-of-age trek. It’s a timely twist on that other Alice with the Looking Glass. Driving along, Alice is accosted by rednecks and forced to flee down the highway. When her beat-up car seemingly dies at a rest-stop and the wad of cash she had stashed under the seat disappears, she’s stranded. Suddenly, two cheerful Samaritans appear. Sandra and Bill (Judith Ivey and Bill Raymond) are a middle-aged couple, apparently seeking perpetual pleasure in their roomy RV that’s equipped with all the amenities – and plenty of space for a passenger. Sandra immediately senses Alice’s turmoil and offers her a ride to Florida, along with warm, nurturing friendship, make-up advice and a shopping spree to spice up the pretty teen’s frumpy wardrobe. Outspoken, funny and earthy, Sandra becomes Alice’s surrogate mother – and Bill’s paternal protectiveness makes her feel comfortable, even at home, in the confining space. Then, suddenly, penniless Alice realizes just how Sandra and Bill make their money. What was once mysterious now becomes crystal clear, along with the role her benefactors envision for her in their plans. Writer/director A. Dean Bell not only has a solid sense of story but also a keen eye for casting, pairing two veterans – Judith Ivey and Bill Raymond – with Emily Grace, a talented newcomer. And producer/cinematographer Richard Connors deftly captures their improvised intimacy on digital video. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “What Alice Found” is an intricate, ambiguous 7. It’s a modest, independent drama that turns out to be a gem!
