Review: Sorry We Missed You

 Be your "own" boss.

Ricky (Kris Hitchen) has just gotten a job as a delivery driver in the UK hoping it solves he and his family's financial woes. His wife Abbie (Debbie Honeywood) is a carer, and their two children Seb (Rhys Stone) and Liza Jae (Katie Procter) couldn't differ more academically. But the delivery job isn't what he expected it to be, and the added stress that comes with it leaves them worse off.

Director Ken Loach's last feature, I, Daniel Blake was the main reason I wanted to see this. That was a very hard hitting look at the lower working class in the UK, and Sorry We Missed You is no different. Ricky's family feels real. You might as well be watching a documentary, nothing about this feels artificial. If you've ever struggled with money, it can be a tough watch, but thankfully Loach isn't relentless with this content. There's a few laughs thrown in to break the tension.

What I appreciate most about this feature was the relationship between Ricky and Abbie. They're a couple that even though they're struggling and they do fight, they make a serious effort in truly listening to one another and talking about their problems. That's what sets this movie apart from others involving the same plot. It would be easy to write them with a ton of animosity for each other and to have them at each other's throats for the duration of the film, but I really enjoyed how much they attempted to hear each other out and work towards their shared goal. It's a rocky relationship, but one that has a strong foundation of love underneath and that's never lost on the viewer.

The actors were great. It reminded me a lot of how Katie Jarvis was in Fish Tank. That feel of someone plucked off the street and put into a film. It works so well.

The ending might be a bit off putting, I know my husband and I were split on it, but overall I thought this was a really solid film.

Recommended: Yes

Grade: B

Memorable Quote: "Nobody messes with my family." - Abbie (Debbie Honeywood)