HEART BEATS LOUD Earns a Warm Spattering of Applause with Nick Offerman and Kiersey Clemons

HEART BEATS LOUD is a quietly disarming father/daughter film infused with love, growing pains and music.  Frank (Nick Offerman "Parks & Recreations") is a single parent to Sam (Kiersey Clemons in a star turning performance).  It's the summer of love for both Nick & Sam before she moves from Brooklyn to UCLA for college (on scholarship) to become a doctor.  Frank has been running a relic of a record store; actual vinyl albums are in stock.  The archaic business has become obsolete.  A belligerent customer demands Frank stop smoking in the store and walks out & back in telling Frank he just bought the album on Amazon for less "asshole."  Frank is not an asshole, he's still living part-time in his glory days when he was a in a band.  Sam has taken on more of the adult role in the father/daughter dynamics.  She is serious about studying (over the summer) while her dad pesters her to put down the books, pick up an instrument & have fun jamming.  Together the 2 make a dynamite duo on guitar, drums & keyboards featuring Sam on vocals.  Sam is a talented artist and there may be a bright future for her in the music business.  Meanwhile, Frank's business has been floundering for years.  Leslie is Frank's landlord & possible love interest (the always sensational Toni Collette).  He tells her he will be shutting down the store.  (Collette is in so many movies this summer it's a wonder she can keep her head on straight.)  Leslie is friendly and sympathetic but "held the rent down for as long as possible."  The pulse of the film is the bond between dad & daughter who make beautiful music together.   The back-up cast of actors all add harmony to this quaint coming-of-age (for both Frank & Sam) pitch perfect picture.  The crew includes Dave (Ted Danson as the friendly bar-tender; a part he owns), Gwyneth Paltrow as Frank's lovable mom with increasing dementia &  kleptomania charges and Rose, Sam's summer romance (a sensational Sasha Lane).  The movie hums along at a languid pace minus any major discords.   The finale ends with Sam & Frank playing to a handful of customers in the store on their everything must go closing night.  The group that gathered, including Leslie & Rose add their tears and cheers along with an enthusiastic smattering of applause from the crowd.  It's not all about the bass or forte in HEART BEATS LOUD.  It's a charming clash of compassion and enthusiasm.   The film directed & written by Bret Haley deserves an ovation.  Bravo!