This is the story of an old man and a little boy. The old man is CURMUDGEONLY and the little boy has to be an adult before his time. The rest is just humor and happenstance…

Story: The writers took a classic theme – child warms the hardened heart of his old, mean next door neighbor – and set it on Long Island. It’s a story we’ve seen before; This version has its interesting moments as well. Not revolutionary, but, enjoyable enough to keep you occupied for 102 minutes. It does have a little bit of an independent film quality to it, which is nice.

Performances: If there’s a stand out in this film, this is where we’ll find it. Bill Murray plays the mean old neighbor Vincent; The little boy is played by Jordan Lieberher and his mother is played by Melissa McCarthy. Vincent is dirty and a bad influence, the little boy is adorable and his mother is emotional about everything. All good performances, but, nothing Oscar-worthy.

However, there is one character who is potentially Oscar-worthy. Naomi Watts as Vincent’s pregnant/prostitute/stripper/companion. She’s also Russian. I’m not sure if it’s her performance or if the writers saved all of the good dialogue for her character, but, her scenes have just a bit more comedy to them. And to have so many elements to her – Russian, pregnant, stripper, lady-of-the-night – who wouldn’t sit up straight to see where all of that’s going… Did I mention the baby is NOT Vincent’s?

Think Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny and Mira Sorvino in Mighty Aphrodite. Look for a possible best supporting actress nomination at the Oscars…

Visual: The costumes were great. Again, Naomi Watts as Daka has the most colorful of attire. It’s not obvious we’re on Long Island until someone says it, but, it is obvious were in a residential neighborhood. The rest of it isn’t noteworthy…

Rating: St. Vincent is a B- for the spectacle of the Lady-of-the-Night bumping it up from average. The ending lives up to the sentimental nature of this type of film, but, there’s not a big bang anywhere.

No rush to the theaters for this one… check it out on DVD…