Filming New York City is a bit like filming a character in his own right. And when it comes to a comedy as fresh as this one, you'd swear you've discovered Woody Allen's spiritual daughter. Presented during the Champs-Elysées Film Festival, Jean of the Joneses tells the story of Jean , a 25-year-old woman, and her Jamaican-American family. This family of several generations of middle-class women is upset when a distant grandfather dies on the steps of the family home.As Jean unearths old family secrets, tensions and old conflicts resurface… With this kind of feel-good movie, director Stella Meghie proves that authenticity in cinema still has a bright future ahead of her!
A fresh and entertaining family comedy
Jean of the Joneses is one of those comedies that, without bringing anything new to the cinema, prove to be a sincere pleasure to follow. But a rather paradoxical thing is to be highlighted: if this film is very pleasant to discover, there is not much to say about it except … that the film is good (that's argumentation!).
The character of Jean is very interesting, but it is especially the whole family that is delectable to watch. As united as they are disunited at times, these women mired in their secrets love each other deeply and it is felt. All this affection involves an almost instinctive emotional attachment. In addition, the character of Jean is as complex as it is lost. This initiatory journey in search of her grandfather's past and to discover herself does not lose rhythm for a single second. Endearing and funny, Jean follows her journey, sometimes as a strong woman, sometimes as a lost girl. The strengths and weaknesses of all these characters bring enough psychology not to fall into the vulgar family comedy potache. On the contrary, Jean of the Joneses is as entertaining as it is subtle.
A sincere and authentic film
If Jean of the Joneses touches, it is mainly due to the sincerity of his writing. We feel how much Stella Meghie was inspired by some of her personal experiences to tell us this story. She does not hide it when she talks about her work to the public. This sincerity gives the impression of being close to the characters and understanding them all the better.
The attachment caused by this authenticity is as immediate as it is unwavering for each of the characters, including those we see the least. The sincerity is felt as well in the dialogues with small onions as in the funny situations at will (we recommend the film just for the scene of the wake !). The film is carried by actresses as talented as each other, adding the final touch to this total success. In short, no need to say more except that this New York trip within this American-Jamaican family is a real gem.
Jean of the Joneses is a film to discover more than a film to describe. Funny, touching, authentic and aesthetically perfect, this trip to the heart of New York fits perfectly into Woody Allen's legacy. A charming family comedy to discover absolutely.
Jean of the Joneses trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDjBLQfX3Yw
