Watch Permanent

Permanent, released in 2017, is a poignant coming-of-age comedy-drama that explores the challenges of fitting in and standing out during adolescence. The film is set in 1982 and follows the story of Aurelie Dickson (Kira McLean), a shy and introverted 13-year-old girl who moves to a new town with her parents. Soon after starting at her new school, Aurelie becomes envious of the popular girls with their fashion and hairstyles. With the encouragement of her quirky mother, Kathy (Patricia Arquette), Aurelie decides to get a "permanent" wave hairstyle to make herself stand out from the crowd.

The movie mainly revolves around the relationships between Aurelie, her parents, and her older brother Michael (Rainn Wilson). Michael is a recently unemployed, floundering adult who is having trouble accepting his responsibilities as a husband and father-to-be. One evening, he decides to practice his hairdressing skills on Aurelie, which proves to be a disaster, leaving her with uneven strands of hair. Kathy decides to fix the botched haircut by taking Aurelie to a hairdresser, where she gets her aforementioned permanent wave along with some colorful highlights. The new hairstyle certainly makes Aurelie feel more confident, but it also draws negative attention from her classmates.

When the students at school tease Aurelie for her hairstyle, she starts to lose confidence and become unsure of who she is. Meanwhile, Kathy has her own insecurities, including her recent weight gain and her inability to connect with her son Michael. The movie touches on the themes of conformity, identity, and body image, as well as family dynamics and the difficulties of growing up.

Despite the serious tone of the film, Permanent is also quite funny and heartwarming. It features a talented cast, including Emmy winner Patricia Arquette as the eccentric, determined mother Kathy, and Rainn Wilson as the underemployed yet loving father and brother. Kira McLean's portrayal of Aurelie is impressive, capturing the teenager's uncertainty and resilience with nuance and subtlety. The supporting cast is also noteworthy, with standout performances from Alexis Leggett and Kaleigh Jo Keller as Aurelie's classmates.

The movie is written and directed by Colette Burson, who previously worked on the television series Hung and The Riches. Burson clearly has a knack for balancing comedy and drama, as well as for creating believable characters and relationships. Her use of 1980s aesthetics and music adds a nostalgic, whimsical touch to the film, which further emphasizes the themes of identity and fitting in.

In conclusion, Permanent is a charming and witty film that tackles important issues with heart and humor. It manages to capture the uncertainty and awkwardness of adolescence while also celebrating the individuality and resilience of its characters. With its strong performances, touching story, and nostalgic style, the movie will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to find their place in the world.

Permanent is a 2017 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7 and a MetaScore of 41.