Disney stars have the burden of critically panned films during their tenure as teen pop icons, and this stigma does not fade quickly. For example, High School Musical’s Vanessa Hudgens’ latest role in “Gimme Shelter” — a true story, according to its opening titles — neither functions as a strong starring vehicle for her nor as a poignant drama about womanhood.
The film’s first act, wherein 16-year-old Apple (Hudgens) runs away from her abusive mother (Rosario Dawson) in search of her rich Wall Street-broker father, Tom Fitzpatrick (Brendan Fraser) is bearable. Her quest is successful, but this part is cut short by Apple’s unexpected pregnancy and her refusal to have an abortion despite Tom’s concerns, which forces her to find another home.
When Apple encounters Father McCarthy (James Earl Jones), who brings her to a shelter for pregnant teens, the film becomes increasingly uneventful. Our main character somehow goes from brooding street kid to supportive, responsible mother in 100 minutes of Lifetime-movie characterization and plot devices, though it feels like longer.
For a film that features child abuse, self-destructive behavior, homelessness and teenage pregnancy, “Shelter” is relatively tame. The only moments when the film gets profoundly dark are when Apple’s mother stalks her, hoping to force her into prostitution in order to make money for the two of them. Ultimately, the film is about finding hope in times of despair, which it blatantly points out by having Apple name her newborn Hope. “Gimme Shelter” wants the audience to see how Apple realizes that no matter how low she has sunk, there will be people at her side to help her.
The problem with this is that the characters on her side barely have any substance. Neither her newfound dad nor the leader of the shelter (Ann Dowd), who briefly mentions an interesting anecdote about how she was homeless herself at Apple’s age, is compelling. We are never convinced that Apple develops any strong friendships at the shelter and the few times she does interact with her peers they do not have the necessary dramatic impact that would keep an audience interested. Furthermore, for a film that claims to be based on real events the conclusion feels more like a fairy tale.
A drama like this also requires strong acting across the board, which is lacking in “Shelter.” Fraser looks bored when on screen, this is likely because of the flimsy script. Jones sleepwalks as the typical wise-man character — a sad reminder of what happens to aging actors past their prime. On the flip side, Dawson successfully balances her character’s sinister nature and helplessness for the few scenes she has throughout the film.
In the end, this project is a Vanessa Hudgens vehicle, even if she is not fully convincing as a streetwise loner who comes from the wrong side of the tracks. Hudgens may have been better off doing another sequel to “High School Musical” to show off her acting chops because “Gimme Shelter” is a forgettable film that falls victim to a clichéd narrative filled with underwritten melodrama.
Zack Grullon is a staff writer. Email him at [email protected].
