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16 To Life Stars: Hallee Hirsh, Mandy Musgrave, Will Rothhaar, Nicholas Downs, Shiloh Fernandez, Emily Foxler, Jaime Gomez and Theresa Russell Director/Scriptwriter: Becky Smith Composer: H. Scott Salinas Waterdog Productions No rating but could be PG 13 Running Length: 105 minutes Winner of The Audience Award for Kansas International Film Festival (KIFF) and The Method Fest Have you ever had a birthday that didn't come up to expectations? You know, the kind where you get socks when you wanted a cell phone or a cosmetic bag when you wanted a metal-trimmed purse? Enter the world of 16-year-old Kate (Hallee Hirsh), who works part-time at an ice cream stand, has an older sister who hates her, a dad who always wants to protect her, and a kind grandmother who promises to bake her a cake but gives money to the older sister. Amen. Kate is 16 and has never been kissed. This is the premise of Becky Smith’s movie that chronicles a day in the life of Kate on the day of her 16th birthday. We get to meet Kate’s working associates at the ice cream stand. There is Theresa Russell, the sad owner who smokes pot, Kate’s best friend-and sometimes enemy Darby (Mandy Musgrave) who constantly flirts with guys, and the cook (Shiloh Fernandez) who is everyone’s friend but has his own secrets. Through the day, we see customers who are friendly and a general pain. The small river town (this was beautifully filmed along the Mississippi River, Iowa side) is also a tourist town and the “summer people” look down on the locals. Which means, if you are attracted to a “summer” boy or girl, expect a break-up in the fall and that’s the end of it. Will Kate get kissed or not? Will Darby go on a date with her boyfriend? Will Theresa go on a blind date with a local war veteran (Jaime Gomez?) Will Theresa’s policeman son (Nicholas Downs) continue to be a grade-A perfectionist? According to her, as a child he was strapping himself into his own car seat. Just when things slow down at the ice cream stand, we get a glimpse of the gorgeous Mississippi River and literally take a deep breath before going back into Kate’s day. The dialogue is witty, almost beyond the realm of a 16-year-old. It’s a good thing food inspectors don’t see what goes on behind the counter and Dad’s comments on personal safety come in handy. One particular moment had me chuckling and that was when a group of bikers come into the parking lot. The girls lock themselves in a pantry leaving the cook to deal with the crowd. He promptly says the wrong thing and we wonder if that is his usual day? 16 to Life is a character-driven film and we begin to care for the people. Hallee Hirsh plays Kate as someone older, who has had to grow up fast. Mandy Musgrave’s Darby can turn on a dime from friendly to not and shows that maturing is sometimes not what it is cracked up to be. Shiloh Fernandez as the cook is a study in complexity and Theresa Russell anchors the store as the owner who has gotten herself into a certain part of life and doesn't know how to get out. All in all, “16 To Life” is well put together, including Kate’s reading of a book on the Chinese Cultural Revolution and fantasizing it happening in her life. All part of being 16. Copyright 2010 Marie Asner
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