a_chinn A sappy and cliche filled story about a crabby old man who takes care of his quiet shy latchkey neighbor kid. Both learn life lessons from one another and both become better people for it. Oh, did I mention there's also a hooker with a heart of gold and there's also a single mother doing the best she can? Before you dismiss this formula story set-up, the grouchy old neighbor is played by Bill Murray, so that alone should be enough to make you want to give "St. Vincent" a chance. First time writer/director Theodore Melfi does deliver a story that's corny, cliched, and predictable (one medical emergency seemed particularly unnecessary, not adding anything to either character or plot), but despite the maudlin set-up and cookie cutter character tropes, the cast is incredibly strong, led by Murray as Vincent. He takes care of young Jaeden Lieberher, teaching him how to fight dirty, how to gamble, and how to get a bartender's attention, but it's Bill Murray teaching him these life lessons! So even though we've seen this tired formula a hundreds of times before, it's hilariously fun to watch with Murray playing the child-hating curmudgeon. How can you resist Bill driving around in his 1984 Chrysler Lebaron, gabling and drinking, and consorting with his Russian prostitute/girlfriend, Naomi Watts, all while taking care of a young child. As with these sorts of films (everything from "Little Miss Marker" to "Bad Santa"), Lieberher teaches Murray how to be kinder towards others and Lieberher learns how to stand up for himself. Lieberher's mom is played by Melissa McCarthy in what is surprisingly straight role, which is an inserting change of pace for the usually hilarious comedic actress and she's very good. Watts is also quite good in a primarily comedic part that could have easily slid into an annoyingly cliched character, but she elevates the material so that you genuinely care about her character. This's what the entire cast does for the film, elevating the cliches and making it worth watching. They may not be characters you'd want to actually spend time with in real-life, but they are characters you care about, are compelling to watch on-screen, and who you are rooting for. Overall, "St. Vincent" is not a great film, but the cast very nearly makes it such. Chris O'Dowd and Terrence Howard also appear in the film.

Cara Leslie I really enjoyed this film.Bill Murray gives a typically great performance in it as the titular "Saint" Vincent. The name is ironic in that he is actually very much a jerk. He's selfish, slovenly, arrogant, rude, and just all around ill- tempered with nothing but faults.But when a single mother with problems moves in next door (running over his fence in the process) as much as he pushes them away he ends up connecting with the kid, first because he really needs the babysitting money the mom will pay him, but he soon comes to like the kid despite himself.It's the kid who really comes to care about him though. And no matter how much Vincent pushes him away the kid sees something good in him which nobody else, Vincent included, can see - or remember.

The Duke of Movietown I saw ST. VINCENT last night! What is Saint Vincent? It's only is the newest film starring everyone's favorite misanthropic wise-ass Bill Murray! The movie tells the tale of the sullen and wildly unlikable Vincent, a drunken old cuss who's life gets unwillingly jostled out of bed by his new neighbors a young boy named Oliver, played by newcomer Jaden Lieberher and his over stressed mother, played by Melissa McCarthy. At first Vincent sees his new neighbors as a way to scam some much needed cash, but as the bonds between he and Oliver grow, the grinchly old man finds a friendship that he was not prepared for.In a lot of ways, this film is like version of Denis the Menace with Bill Murray's character being the source of all the mischief and believe me, there's a lot of it. From pregnant strippers to horse races and every human vice in between, this movie shows it all and in very funny ways. It also has a lot of heart and it really puts what many would call a one dimensional character into a full three dimensions by the end of the film. The chemistry between McCarthy, Lieberher and Murray is really fun to watch in this movie and the rest cast is really funny here as well with Chris O'Dowd as Oliver's teacher and Naomi Watts as Vincent's Russian hooker girlfriend. In short if you liked Bad Santa or The Bad News Bears, you'll like this movie too. If I had to say anything bad about it I might say that it's a little too relaxed in it's pace but in reality, what Billy Murray film has ever made it's bones by being fast paced and taught? It moves to the beat of it's own drum and does very well for itself. St. Vincent gets a 3.5...out of 5

krocheav So this is how modern America see Saintliness. Yet another moronic entry into the wretched 'Bad Santa' genre. Yep folks commin' your way is a feel good, sweet and warm, movie about a slob, a boozy drunk, a bad language man (if you went into businesses or banks and spoke to employees like this bod you'd be arrested or shown the door!), among other things he's also a gambler, a cheap womanizer and tobacco abuser - what other kind of a bloke is there we can all look up to?. This seems to be about as close as it gets in too many movies these days. It's OK that we've seen it all before (there's very little new left to be found out there anyway...) but, it's not OK that it can't all be done a little better.There are some good scenes that creep into moments of this show (scenes with Murray's Dementia suffering wife for example). Otherwise it's unfortunately aimed squarely at those who can be kept happy with the sub generic vulgar type 'cuteness' that gets thrown at us too often nowadays. Maybe there's no need to improve scripts - seems they've managed to dumb down most audiences to the point they can still make money from junk anyway. While it's interesting to see him, our iconic Bill has done this role so many times he just walks through it all (by the numbers). Oh well, is it likable? - some will, some wont, I didn't....but, it does also have some sparse but likable bouncy original score music by Theodore Shapiro - that almost gets lost amongst the now expected, 'top-of-the-pop-hits' that make up so many promo type sound tracks today. Pity, would have enjoyed hearing better use of what was scored for the movie.