Permanent (film)

Permanent is a 2017 American comedy film written and directed by Colette Burson and starring Patricia Arquette and Rainn Wilson.[1][2][3][4]

Permanent
Directed byColette Burson
Produced bySam Bisbee
Joshua Blum
Mary Ann Marino
Haroula Rose
Written byColette Burson
Starring
Music byCraig Wedren
CinematographyPaula Huidobro
Edited byChris Plummer
Production
company
2929 Entertainment
Park Pictures
Washington Square Pictures
Distributed byMagnolia Pictures
Release date
  • September 30, 2017 (2017-09-30) (Edmonton)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

The film is set in the early 1980s in small town Virginia. Aurelie is the new girl in town, having recently relocated from Washington D.C. with her parents Jim (a former steward for Air Force One) and Jeanne. Jim is attending college on a scholarship to become a physician while Jeanne, now the breadwinner, works at the local chicken shack. Aurelie asks her parents if she can have a permanent to fit in with the "Farrah Fawcett" types in town. Her parents finally relent and take her to a local beauty school to get her hair processed at a discount. The result is disastrous, making Aurelie look more like orphan Annie than Farrah. She starts school and is immediately teased by everyone. She tries to befriend the only black girl in school, Lydia, but is rebuffed. Aurelie furthers her unpopularity by overly participating in class and is frequently bullied by a group of popular girls. Aurelie reluctantly takes a karate class in order to defend herself. She sees a sign on another beauty shop in town that advertises permanent fixes for $60 and resolves to make the money. Eventually the school holds a poetry reading contest, with a top prize of $75. Aurelie signs up herself and Lydia. Lydia initially does not want to participate. During the poetry contest she panics and recites the lyrics to "Feeling Good" instead of her assigned poem. Meanwhile, Aurelie is confronted by the popular girls. She uses her karate training to defeat the girls and returns to the contest to see that Lydia has been announced the winner. Lydia offers Aurelie the money to fix her hair, and Aurelie declines saying that she no longer cares.

Jim, who wears a hairpiece, has been told by his college counselor that he must take a swimming class in order to receive his scholarship. He returns to the pool several times but cannot bring himself to put his head underwater or be seen without his hairpiece. Jeanne fills unfulfilled by her new life. Jim is unresponsive to her sexual advances, again stating he does not want to ruin his hairpiece or take it off. Jeanne instead becomes emotionally involved with their neighbor Jerry, who volunteers to teach her to be an artist and to help with family counseling. He reveals his true intentions when he comments on her breasts. During a family counseling session, Jim affirms his love and commitment to Jeanne. The film ends with Jim, Jeanne, and Aurelie at the school pool. Jim climbs the high dive, tosses his hairpiece off, and dives into the pool.

Cast
  • Patricia Arquette as Jeanne Dickson
  • Rainn Wilson as Jim Dickson
  • Kira McLean as Aurelie Dickson
  • Jacqueline Jones as Maylene (Beautician)
  • Michael Greene as Jerry (The Therapist)
  • Sean Ramey as Pete (Martial Arts instructor)
  • Nena Daniels as Lydia
  • Abby Wathen as Mrs. Tripp
  • Katherine S. Wright as Ginger-Ale (Druggie)
  • Grey Garrett as the Tutor
  • Devin Albert as Son
  • Elainey Bass as Cafeteria Kid

Production

The film was shot in Virginia.[5]

Reception

The film has a 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[6] Michael Ordona of Common Sense Media awarded the film three stars out of five.[7] Sheila O'Malley of RogerEbert.com awarded the film two stars.[8]

References
  1. Arriaga, Indra (1 February 2018). "FILM REVIEW: Permanent; A Bad Hair Day". Anchorage Press. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  2. Kenny, Glenn (15 December 2017). "Review: 'Permanent,' About the Hairstyle, Falls Flat". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  3. Scheck, Frank (15 December 2017). "'Permanent': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  4. Debruge, Peter (15 December 2017). "Film Review: 'Permanent'". Variety. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  5. McNary, Dave (15 August 2016). "Patricia Arquette, Rainn Wilson Starring in '80s Comedy 'Permanent'". Variety. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  6. "Permanent". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  7. Ordona, Michael. "Permanent". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  8. O'Malley, Sheila (15 December 2017). "Permanent". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
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