Eleanor the Great

Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut is a charming crowd-pleaser.

...a fascinating, if often baffling first effort from Johannson and Kamen, one not afraid of big emotional wallops, but not always able to carry them into truly revelatory spaces.

...Squibb’s lively performance makes it memorable.

...if the narrative logic falls apart, at least its emotional core remains solid, much of it bound together by Squibb’s warmth and charm.

Eleanor is a deeply flawed woman, and hanging with her might be tough, but for two hours, Eleanor is pretty great.

Scarlett Johansson’s directing debut is an irresistible triumph.