The Hollars

An aspiring graphic-novelist (John Krasinski, who also directed), frustrated in his dead-end job and hesitant about marrying his pregnant girlfriend (Anna Kendrick), returns to his small Ohio home town when his mother (Margo Martindale) faces a health crisis. Writer Jim Strouse dresses up the clichés of dysfunctional-family indie comedy-dramas for one more go-round, and Krasinski and a cast of welcome faces (Sharlto Copley, Richard Jenkins, Charlie Day, Josh Groban, Mary Kay Place, Mary Elizabeth Winstead) provide enjoyable company. The result is disarmingly modest—more modest than we’d like, maybe, but amply disarming. Strouse’s dialogue has odd little quirks and tics, and Krasinski’s gentle, discreet direction is a good match for it. No great art, just a nice, decent movie about nice, decent people. J.L.