1 | [[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ricki_and_the_flash.jpg]] |
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3 | ''Ricki and the Flash'' is a 2015 SliceOfLife movie, written by Creator/DiabloCody and directed by Creator/JonathanDemme, about Ricki (but not ''the'' [[ComicBook/TheFlash Flash]]). The film was Demme's final dramatic work as a director, released before his death in 2017. [[note]]His final overall work as a director was the documentary/concert film ''Music/JustinTimberlake + The Tennessee Kids''.[[/note]] |
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5 | Creator/MerylStreep stars as aging rock musician "Ricki Rendazzo"--real name Linda Brummel--who abandoned her family years ago in pursuit of fame and fortune, but now mostly plays at a California dive bar in front of a handful of loyal fans while working the till at a supermarket to make ends meet. After receiving a call that her daughter Julie (played by Streep's real life daughter Creator/MamieGummer) has been left by her husband, Ricki travels back to reconnect with her family. |
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7 | Also stars Creator/KevinKline as Ricky's ex-husband Pete, Creator/SebastianStan as her middle son Joshua and Music/RickSpringfield as her lead guitarist Greg. |
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9 | ---- |
10 | !!Ricki and the tropes: |
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12 | * AlliterativeName: '''R'''icki '''R'''endazzo. |
13 | * AnAesop: "Just because you screwed up once it doesn't mean you don't get a second chance." |
14 | * ArtistAndTheBand |
15 | * BerserkButton: When Greg calls Ricki "Linda" on stage, she gets very annoyed. |
16 | * BigScrewedUpFamily: Seems like it at first, but they get better. |
17 | * CoolOldLady: PlayedForDrama in Ricki's case. While she fits the stereotypical requirements--in her fifties at least and fronting a rock band--she's shown to have baggage of her own. |
18 | * DancePartyEnding: Well the end is at a wedding and the protagonist is a rock musician. Do the math. |
19 | * DoingItForTheArt: In-universe. Ricki only has a handful of loyal fans to see her perform, but she does it out of sheer love. |
20 | * DoNotCallMePaul: Downplayed. Ricki prefers to go by her stage name, but she allows her family to call her Linda. She however is furious when Greg calls her that. |
21 | * DoubleStandard: Ricki mentions one. If a father isn't there for his family, he's usually forgiven somewhat. If a mother isn't, she's regarded as a monster. |
22 | * DrivenToSuicide: Julie tried anyway. Thankfully she didn't succeed and doesn't try again. |
23 | * DysfunctionJunction: At the family dinner scene we have: the mother who abandoned her family to become a musician, the father who remarried and excluded said mother, the suicidal divorcee daughter, the {{gayngst}} son and the other son who won't invite his mother to his wedding. |
24 | * FallenOnHardTimesJob: Played with. Ricki works at a supermarket till to make ends meet. She doesn't seem to have much of a problem with it though. |
25 | * FamilyVersusCareer: The film's premise is the fallout of Ricki abandoning her family for fame and fortune many years back. |
26 | * GranolaGirl: Implied with Joshua's fiancee Emily. Their wedding is very eco friendly. |
27 | * TheMakeover: Well more like taking Julie out to actually get washed after a while. |
28 | * NeverMessWithGranny: Ricki proves she can go MamaBear when she encounters Julie's ex and his new girlfriend in a bar. |
29 | * NeverMyFault: Ricki constantly tells Pete that he squeezed her out of the family, ignoring that she still abandoned her children. |
30 | * NiceMeanAndInBetween: Ricki's three children: Joshua (Nice), Julie (Mean) and Adam (In-between). |
31 | * NoBisexuals: Adam says of his previous claim of bisexuality "that was just my cover story in college." |
32 | * ParodySue: Maureen is literally the perfect mother. But she's so inhumanly perfect it's clear she's meant as a {{Foil}} for Ricki. |
33 | * ProtagonistTitle: Unsurprisingly, Ricki is the main character. |
34 | * TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Ricki attepts to give one to Maureen, and gets an even bigger one in return. |
35 | * TheRockStar: What Ricki and Greg have aspired to be anyway. |
36 | * ScatterBrainedSenior: Oma, played by Charlotte Rae in a cameo. |
37 | * SheCleansUpNicely: Both Julie and Ricki at the climactic wedding. |
38 | * TheSmurfettePrinciple: Ricki herself is the only female member of the Flash. |
39 | * StageName: Ricki's real name is actually Linda Brummel. |
40 | * TeamTitle: The title refers to the band. |
41 | * ThereAreNoTherapists: Subverted. Julie is in therapy to deal with her divorce, and Maureen preaches how important it is that she doesn't miss a session. |
42 | * TomboyishName: Stage name anyway. Ricki's real name Linda is more feminine. |
43 | * TrueBlueFemininity: The dress Ricki (reluctantly) wears to Joshua's wedding is a shade of royal blue. |
44 | * VagueAge: It's not stated how old Ricki is meant to be. Meryl Streep was 66 at the time, though she's likely meant to be somewhere in her fifties. |
45 | * WhiteDwarfStarlet: Played with. Ricki and the Flash did have an album and enjoyed some success, but they were never stars. |
46 | * WickedStepmother: Inverted. Ricki was the deadbeat biological mother, while stepmother Maureen is practically a demigod of perfection. |
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