Line #6 Film/RickiAndTheFlash


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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Context Film / RickiAndTheFlash