Theres no depth, no layers whatsoever in what couldve been a deliciously complex story. As a result, Ricki and the Flash is never satisfying, and feels superficial to say the least. Even the laughs are few and far between. As the film crosses the one-hour mark, youll be shifting in your seat impatiently, waiting for it to end. There are some things even Meryl Streep cant do. Rescuing this flaccid film is one of them. Im going with two out of five.

The performances are mostly solid. Real-life rocker Springfield plays Ricki’s bandmate and lover. And Gummer’s screen presence is credible and good. Some of the film’s best scenes involve her. But by the end of the film, you might find yourself wondering if Streep (she plays and sings for real here) really is in a rock n’ roll band on the side. Yes, she’s that convincing.

The ending is as disappointing as it is improbable, making you wonder what the point of all of it was. There’s no lesson to take away from the film, then why inject a dramatic element in the story at all? As mentioned above, Streep is the only element worth watching the film for, but there’s only so much of ‘Streep pretending to be a failed rocker’ one can take.

Ricki and The Flash is an unexpected combination of humor and emotions. Fans of Meryl Streep will enjoy her newest avatar, her chemistry with her daughter and her incredible musical performances. A must-watch, if only to hear her sing Lady Gaga.