The film centers on a father and his two young daughters who have a strong bond with one another. It draws from real-life events in the director’s childhood and marks her debut as a filmmaker. Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana portray the onscreen parents, while her own daughter plays the part of their 12-year-old child. The reviewer felt it was a wonderful team assembled, noting the director's involvement with her daughter, the father's role as producer, and how the story reflects their shared experiences. The reviewer anticipated an emotionally challenging experience given the film’s premise and trailer, but found it ultimately fulfilling and enjoyable, exceeding initial expectations. The narrative follows a close-knit family living in 1978 Boston facing financial hardship due to the father's condition, requiring the mother to return to college and work to support their children’s education and care. This leaves the father and daughters to navigate several years together—a period that proves both difficult and formative. A poignant line from the film is: "We'll be braver, Daddy. Next time, I promise we'll be braver." The reviewer admitted feeling scared at times due to aspects of the father’s character and scenes involving children playing with a machete. While praising it as a wonderful family movie, they noted its suitability primarily for adult audiences, citing excessive cigarette smoking—Mark Ruffalo appeared to smoke throughout his screen time—and frequent use of profanity. The film is rated R, but the reviewer appreciated the accurate depiction of the 1970s atmosphere. One minor issue was that the children didn't seem to age realistically alongside the changing cars, clothing styles, and technology shown in the film, although this wasn’t a major distraction given the consistently engaging storytelling. The reviewer found the emotional moments balanced by equally powerful scenes, keeping them invested throughout. They also appreciated the portrayal of innocent family sentiments as endearing. Mark Ruffalo is considered deserving of an Oscar nomination, though the reviewer refrained from declaring him the winner until assessing other performances. This role is considered his best to date, drawing a comparison to JK Simmons’ performance in 'Whiplash.' Zoe Saldana delivered her usual charming and polished portrayal, and the chemistry between Ruffalo and Saldana felt genuine and believable. The two young actresses also impressed in their film debuts. The focus remained tightly on these four characters, with only occasional appearances from other individuals. The reviewer found the meaning of the title cleverly revealed to those who paid attention. The combination of storytelling and background music was exceptional; many of the tracks, some not original scores, were well-chosen and played through the credits. “The Pirate Song,” written by the director, and “Oogum Boogum” were particularly enjoyable, prompting a desire to add them to a movie song collection. Overall, the film is expected to leave viewers with an uplifted mood. It inspires thoughts of creating one’s own family, especially highlighting the father's responsibility and the daughters' role in supporting him. The reviewer described it as a rare gem—completely enjoyable and somewhat overlooked upon its release. Despite initially unimpressive promotional materials, it has become a favorite film from 2015, earning high praise from movie enthusiasts. As always, the reviewer urges viewers to experience it for themselves, regardless of their initial inclinations. 9/10

Source on TMDB