I Care A Lot has been received well by critics, but the current audience score implies that Netflix streamers aren't impressed. Written and directed by J Blakeson, the 2021 black comedy follows a con woman who manipulates the assisted living system to her advantage. Many reviews praise Rosamund Pike's lead performance in I Care A Lot, while others have noted the script's lack of depth.
In I Care A Lot, Marla Grayson (Pike) tries to acquire the assets of an elderly woman named Jennifer Peterson. First, she colludes with a doctor to become the woman's legal guardian, then gives specific orders to the head of a local care home. Marla also finds diamonds in a safe deposit box, and everything seems to be going her way — until she discovers that Jennifer is actually the mother of a notorious Russian-American mobster. The storyline focuses on the antihero's attempts to establish her dominance as a "lioness," all the while becoming rich in the process. I Care A Lot co-stars Peter Dinklage as Roman Lunyov, Eiza González as Fran, Chris Messina as Dean Ericson, and Dianne Wiest as the aforementioned Peterson.
I Care A Lot currently has an 81% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on over 100 reviews, with the audience score being much lower at 35%. Overall, most critics seem to appreciate Pike's devilish lead performance as the main antihero, even though she's covered familiar territory before as Amy Dunne in Gone Girl. It's the cat-and-mouse aspect that appears to resonate with many viewers, along with the supporting performances by Wiest and Dinklage. Plus, the always-reliable González humanizes Marla as her loving partner, Fran. The Netflix film may not be all that complex, but it hits all the right story beats with its commentary about greed and privilege. Here are some positive takes on I Care A Lot.
"Rosamund Pike swings from icy cool to scalding hot as the scam's ringleader, with Dianne Wiest and Peter Dinklage making the most of rich supporting roles."
"'I Care A Lot' is cleverly plotted to the extent that the film lets viewers feel like they are accomplices in the subterfuge. Part of the film's giddy fun is waiting to see if, when, and how Marla and/or Roman will be taken down."
"Sure, the blithe, parasitic nature of these characters is disturbing, but the verve of the storytelling on display keeps you hooked, as does the ever-versatile Pike."
"A shockingly funny sendup of our money-trumps-morals culture starring a dynamite Rosamund Pike who outdoes her 'Gone Girl' evil by partnering in crime with the great Peter Dinklage for the most delicious, decadent treat of the new movie year."
"Blakeson puts such a colorful, over-the-top sheen on it, plus lets Pike and Dinklage loose on each other, that you can't help but be entertained by the criminal carnage and extreme shenanigans."
Most critics seem to enjoy I Care A Lot on Netflix, but some reviews show why general audiences haven't warmed up to the film. For example, the movie may be too much of a downer for people in general — certainly amidst the COVID-19 pandemic — evidenced by its storyline about elderly people being manipulated. There are also some incredibly dark scenes that could rub people the wrong way, even though I Care A Lot is indeed a black comedy. In general, it seems like critics have issues with the lack of overall character depth, while streamers maybe don't vibe with the off-kilter tone and aggressive humor. I Care A Lot isn't quite a feel-good Friday movie, which seems to explain the immediate audience score after a Friday release. Here are some negative takes on Blakeson's 2021 film.
"It's gleefully wicked, but I wish there was a little more glee amid the wicked."
"The film is arch, but no triumph, an airless exercise in mistrusting its audience, and all of it is accompanied by pummeling music that sounds like a Vangelis wannabe recorded during a brownout."
"Marla, in her spiky stilettos and even sharper-edged blond bob, is barely a sketch, let alone a character; there's no charisma for her cool greed to latch onto. And she makes it hard to care much for I Care A Lot."
"Writer-director J Blakeson ('The 5th Wave') tries to position 'I Care A Lot' as a pitch-black comedy or a satire aimed at, hmm, the state, maybe? But he ends up with a noxious story..."
"Blakeson's script exhausts its charms halfway through, settling for a criminal versus criminal tale that will make you shake your head so hard you'll likely to earn a migraine."
In the coming months, the Tomatometer and audience scores for I Care a Lot will probably meet somewhere in the middle. Critics mostly enjoy the film, but it certainly doesn't provide a layered commentary about business and ethics in America. However, the Netflix movie does feature some heavy-duty performances from big-name stars, with Wiest perhaps giving the most complex character interpretation, evidenced by her mannerisms and subtle voice changes. I Care A Lot may not provide the humor that general streamers expect, but it does work especially well as a black comedy, one that doesn't conclude with a tidy ending but rather a bloody mess.