ReelBob: ‘Not to Forget’ ★★½
By Bob Bloom
“Not to Forget” follows a familiar path as it intermingles its faith-based message with a look at the ravages and emotional toll of Alzheimer’s disease.
Writer-director Valerio Zanoli’s sincere drama is straightforward — no twists, turns or surprises.
The main character is Chris (Tate Dewey), a young conman who lives off the scams he and his friends, Kim (Taylor Hook) and Jerry (Jared Erusa) perpetrate.
When Chris — who grew up in foster homes after the death of his mother in a car accident caused by his father — is caught and arrested, a judge sentences him to four weeks of taking care of his grandmother, Melody (Karen Grassle), at her home in rural Kentucky.
Chris, of course, has no interest in helping Melody, leaving most of the heavy lifting to Joe (Kevin Hardesty), Melody’s hired hand, who takes care of her and the farm.
When Chris discovers that his grandmother is wealthy, his only focus is getting his hands on her money.
To that end, he — with the help of Kim and Jerry who have driven to Kentucky at his request — try various schemes, including a cringe-worthy but funny attempt at which Chris, disguised as Jesus, tries to convince Melody to give him access to her fortune.
What is more interesting about “Not to Forget” than its standard story and foregone resolution is the supporting cast. Five Academy Award winners have various small roles throughout the film, including Louis Gossett Jr., George Chakiris, Cloris Leachman, Tatum O’Neal and Olympic Dukakis.
A couple, especially Gossett and O’Neal, have impactful parts, while the others simply drop in to say a few words.
Faith-based movies have matured over the years as the genre has gained popularity. They have become more subtle in delivering their message about goodness and God.
It’s the portrayal of an individual dealing with Alzheimer’s that sets “Not to Forget” apart. Grassle’s portrayal of Melody is melancholy. At times, she remembers things, while at other moments she is confused and a somewhat frightened.
The movie, of course, features a big family secret surrounding Joe, which is easy to discern within the first few minutes of meeting his character.
But that should not deter you from checking out “Not to Forget.” It offers a positive message about family, healing and redemption, even in the face of a terrible mind-robbing disease.
One poignant note: the movie marks the final performances of Dukakis and Leachman, and thankfully Zanoli, affords both proper sendoffs.
I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, 4K UHD, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap substack and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook at ReelBob.com or the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My movie reviews also can be found at Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.
NOT TO FORGET
2½ stars out of 4
Not rated