GRANDMA is Likeable Because of the Grande Dame Lily Tomlin

The film by dir/writer/prod Paul Weitz (Admission & American Pie) is entertaining because of the unflappable comic actress, Lily Tomlin.  Tomlin plays the lead role as Elle, grandma to Sage (Julia Garner) & co-mother to Judy played by oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden.  What might have been either a droll or pedantic movie about abortion, is engaging, entertaining and sobering.  The message that legalized abortion is the alternative to back alley procedures is clear but the  of the movie goes much deeper.  The multi-generational females features Elle (for the L word?) as the matriarch  of the family consisting of her straight laced, fast paced executive daughter who detests her and a teen pregnant granddaughter who turns to her rather than face her mother's wrath.  Sage (for naive?) needs money, $630 to be exact in order to have her scheduled abortion that evening.  Elle, shows us her crusty exterior & vulnerable side, proves supportive & stalwart to obtain the $ and get Sage to her Dr.  on time.  Elle, however, is broke & without a credit card so the odyssey to commences on a broken down road trip.  I would have cut a lot from the dismal day, particularily the scene where Elle resorts to asking her ex-husband, Sam Elliot for $500, and the maudlin, selfless apology to her recent ex-lover. Still, the familial bonds prove heartwarming given the tri-fecta star power of Tomlin, Harden & Garner.  You can go home again.  And, a woman's right to a legal, medical abortion is critical.