Wendy and Lucy (2008)

85% of critics liked it
(148 reviews)
64% of users liked it
(10,878 ratings)

Old Joy director Kelly Reichardt crafts this intimate tale of Wendy, an alienated Indiana woman who packs up her car and sets her sights on Alaska, but finds herself stranded in a small Oregon town with no money and only her faithful dog, Lucy, to keep her company. When Wendy realizes that there's… More Old Joy director Kelly Reichardt crafts this intimate tale of Wendy, an alienated Indiana woman who packs up her car and sets her sights on Alaska, but finds herself stranded in a small Oregon town with no money and only her faithful dog, Lucy, to keep her company. When Wendy realizes that there's nothing keeping her in her home state of Indiana, she makes the decision to relocate to Alaska and seek out work at the local fish cannery. With her four-legged friend Lucy in the passenger seat next to her, Wendy stops off to get some rest in a small Oregon town. The following morning, when Wendy attempts to start her car, the engine fails to respond. But this is only the first in a series of snowballing events, because as Wendy waits for the local garage to open she heads to the supermarket to pick up some dog food for Lucy. Opting to shoplift the puppy chow since she doesn't have much cash to speak of, Wendy subsequently finds herself in the local jail thanks to an overzealous employee. By the time Wendy pays her fine and gets back to the supermarket, Lucy is gone. Unfortunately the dog pound doesn't open until the following morning, and after receiving some help from a kindly local, Wendy gets some particularly bad news about her car. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 20 min.
Directed By: Kelly Reichardt
Written By: Kelly Reichardt, Jonathan Raymond
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: May 22, 2008 Wide
On DVD: May 5, 2009
Studio: Oscilloscope Pictures

Critic Reviews

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Williams and Patton and the folks of this corner of Oregon serve up a slice of "indie" that, if it doesn't reach the level of "inspires," at least feels timely and true.
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
Wendy and Lucy is quiet, deliberate filmmaking. See it knowing you will witness an idiosyncratic take on storytelling by a fundamentally independent filmmaker.
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic
Deliberately paced -- slow, even -- it's nevertheless an amazing, timely parable for increasingly desperate times.
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle
Wendy and Lucy is a short, sweet film with a premise as plain as they come: A girl and her dog drift into town.
Tom Long, Detroit News
The very definition of a small film, Wendy and Lucy nonetheless packs some serious wallop thanks to a quietly extraordinary performance by Michelle Williams.
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
Such is the resonant magic of Kelly Reichardt's remarkable little film, one of those exercises in minimalism where every word matters, every shot counts, until the kernel expands and a whole world emerges in 80 brief minutes.
Kelly Vance, East Bay Express
Wendy and Lucy is the blues, pure and simple.
Nick Rogers, Suite101.com
The film ends on a devastating farewell, but also imparts important empathy to Wendy: Although she's at the bottom of the barrel, there are those still inescapably trapped beneath its weight. This is the downbeat, dejected truth of pure pennilessness.
Ian Buckwalter, DCist
The pace of real life is the rhythm that drives Reichardt's beautifully minimalist film.
Sonny Bunch, Washington Times
Kelly Reichardt spends the 75 minutes of Wendy and Lucy weaving an intimate, narrowly focused story of unanchored life on the road and just how tenuous such an existence is.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Bruises while barely raising its voice
Brent Simon, Shared Darkness
A willfully spare, carefully observed film about sympathy and generosity at the dirty-fingernailed edges of American life, Wendy and Lucy feels like a folk song come to life.
Sean Axmaker, Parallax View
... tender, tough and uncompromising, photographed with a disarming directness and seeming simplicity...
Dan Lybarger, eFilmCritic.com
If Wendy and Lucy isn't the most dynamic movie around, at least its tone and approach are sure-footed and appropriate.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
As in Old Joy, Wendy and Lucy's calculated understatement is at once instrumental to its bliss and damnation.
Rob Humanick, Projection Booth
The last masterpiece of 2008, and the perfect yin yang to its first.
Rob Humanick, Projection Booth
Wendy and Lucy gets under your nails, which is to say, it's the stuff of life.
S. James Wegg, JWR
Director co-writer Kelly Reichardt ... has fashioned a cautionary tale for the ages.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
...an American Bicycle Thief, a simple, powerful film about the oppressive indignity of being poor in a wealthy country.
Duane Dudek, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
This is not a saccharine, Marley & Me-type tale, but a wrenchingly ordinary story, emotionally manipulative in its own way -- I know my heart was in my throat -- about poverty in the land of plenty.

Read all 20 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Spencer S

There isn't much to this film in that it has a stable plot or can carry a story. It's more a portrait of a sad lonely, pathetically poor girl who can't catch a break no matter what. It really is a heart wrenching film because of the time it was set and the probable fact… More
There isn't much to this film in that it has a stable plot or can carry a story. It's more a portrait of a sad lonely, pathetically poor girl who can't catch a break no matter what. It really is a heart wrenching film because of the time it was set and the probable fact that many people have gone through this phase of life and have been met with a cool, cruel world. Wendy has very little money, no job, and a car that is giving her trouble. One mistake prompts an avalanche of bad luck from the dinky Oregon town where she is stranded. One user has commented that she finds the townspeople to be kind in the face of the disparity of her situation, and she in turn should be kind. I'm not sure if this film is trying to be at all uplifting or commenting on people still having empathy during any economic crisis or for people suffering through it. It's more just about Wendy as a person, the trials of her life, and the sacrifices she has to make to survive, some of them heartbreaking to watch. She gives up all sense of pride in this film and comes out looking more saddened than anything. People in our country were one paycheck away from living on the streets as of 2008, and even today, so this film is full of commentary on the state of our nation. More importantly though, this film is timeless because of the empathy any of us feel for another human being and the struggles we all must go through in order to survive. Wendy does survive, and most of the film reflects her solidarity, her losses, and isolation. Overall I found this to be more of a downer than anything, with a strong performance from Michelle Williams, as she again exhibits all the qualities of the great actress she is. Worth seeing, no matter what year it is.
moon r

A couple of days in the life on the margins of society as a young woman goes through some hardship while on the road in Oregon. Michelle Williams is haunting in this quiet little piece that sings true ... while not being for everyone's taste.
familiar s

Looking at the rating of the movie, it seems that (not surprisingly) I failed to comprehend the movie. Except for the protagonists and less than one handful of scenes, there absolutely was nothing that pleased me. I felt as if Lucy's mystery would land me into an interesting… More
Looking at the rating of the movie, it seems that (not surprisingly) I failed to comprehend the movie. Except for the protagonists and less than one handful of scenes, there absolutely was nothing that pleased me. I felt as if Lucy's mystery would land me into an interesting slot (agreed, my fault; but then waiting with nothing in hand, I thought this as hell might be it), but having seen it now, I'm blank as to what I was supposed to look forward to in the story. What were the makers expecting me to expect in Wendy's fateful (!!!) road trip? Guess this one is for the brilliants. And I'd be more than pleased to leave it to them. Those looking for entertainment (as per my exceptionally exceptional definition, of course), please be kind enough to browse the rest of the boundless sections of movies available.
Reid V

If you are like me, you have always been on the fence about Michelle Williams. Sure she is good, but I haven't seen anything from her that has really blown me away. That was until I saw Wendy and Lucy. It is a small little film that feels really influenced by the Italy's… More
If you are like me, you have always been on the fence about Michelle Williams. Sure she is good, but I haven't seen anything from her that has really blown me away. That was until I saw Wendy and Lucy. It is a small little film that feels really influenced by the Italy's neo-realism movement. While the film itself is very good, it is William's performance that really makes this film soar. She isn't bombastic or over the top, yet she is able to convey so much heartache in a single look. So even if you aren't excited about the prospects of a very minimalist film, you should check it out for Williams's performance alone.
Everett J

Very quiet and subtle, "Wendy and Lucy" is a very touching movie. Michelle Williams gives a terrific performance as Wendy, a woman on a journey to Alaska when her car breaks down in Oregon and her dog, Lucy, goes missing. This is as true an indie movie as I've ever… More
Very quiet and subtle, "Wendy and Lucy" is a very touching movie. Michelle Williams gives a terrific performance as Wendy, a woman on a journey to Alaska when her car breaks down in Oregon and her dog, Lucy, goes missing. This is as true an indie movie as I've ever seen. Very low budgeted and very few actors, but it is a pretty emotional movie. Who knew a movie about a woman looking for her dog could be so moving? Just goes to show you don't need 100 million dollar special effects to make a very solid movie. Kind of slow in spots, but it's only 80 minutes long. If your into indie movies or very good drama's then you should check this out.
danny d

a charming but depressing and thinly plotted film about a girl who cant stay out of her own way. she plays the victim but really needs to simply take responsibility for herself. i enjoyed williams performance and the film was a delight, but wendy's decision making was… More
a charming but depressing and thinly plotted film about a girl who cant stay out of her own way. she plays the victim but really needs to simply take responsibility for herself. i enjoyed williams performance and the film was a delight, but wendy's decision making was continually frustrating as i awaited a redemption that never came. overall a solid but forgettable film.
Gordon A

Certainly an aquired taste but worth persevering with as Williams is captivating . Inconsequential but touching, it floats along on the whisper of a plot. Refreshing alternative to Blockbuster bombast.
paul s

An honestly shot film with a pacing that gives you plenty of time to think "there but for the grace of god, go I". Watching the American promise unravel in this no holds barred slice of life was a bit discomforting; but that was the film's intent - portraying a 20… More
An honestly shot film with a pacing that gives you plenty of time to think "there but for the grace of god, go I". Watching the American promise unravel in this no holds barred slice of life was a bit discomforting; but that was the film's intent - portraying a 20 ish young woman of limited means with no safety net to fall back on - her only constant being her canine companion. When her car breaks down in a decaying slurb in Oregon she realizes that her limited funds can't be stretched to cover the repairs and the cost of getting her to Alaska (where there is the promise of a decent paying job). In order to stretch her funds she decides to do some minor shoplifting, which triggers an unfortunate series of events that include the loss of her pet. There is little else that goes on in the film, just little slices of life as Wendy tries to get her car repaired and recover her dog. Without her car (which doubles as her hotel room), she is forced to sleep in a park, where in a suspensful scene she is confronted by a crazed drifter who thankfully loses interest in her and doesn't attack or rob her. The following scene where she has a near breakdown in a Shell Station bathroom aptly portrays her terror at not only what she just escaped, but gives you a feeling of the pressure she is under simply trying to survive. Ultimately, she rediscovers her dog, but then makes a heartwrenching choice before hopping on a freight train headed north. The sparceness and directness of the filming does a wonderful job of amplifying the feeling of a woman detached, with the walls closing in; her simple plan thwarted by a deck stacked against her. There is humanity here, and with the exception of a clueless do-gooder stock boy, most of the people Wendy comes in contact with are good simple folk who, in their limited ways, try to help her or cut her a break - but can do little to stem the tide of bad luck that seems to follow her. When you're living on the edge, it doesn't take much of an effort to push you over - but here, while not offering redemption, Wendy somehow has the strength to continue to doggedly persue her plan.
Jake .

In theory Wendy and Lucy sounds rather awful: So, it's about like this burnt-out girl, and she's like stuck in this dumpy town and everybody there is cruel and stupid. or just 'weird', can't forget that. Then she loses her poor little dawg and as she tries to… More
In theory Wendy and Lucy sounds rather awful: So, it's about like this burnt-out girl, and she's like stuck in this dumpy town and everybody there is cruel and stupid. or just 'weird', can't forget that. Then she loses her poor little dawg and as she tries to find it again, she realizes that everybody is sweet and nice deep down inside and she's like been a bit of a bitch. The End. What makes the film great is while that is really the plot of the thing in a nutshell, there is so much more than a simple plot or message. While Wendy is obviously the most pathetic character, we can still understand those who are cruel to her, see thier view of things. At the same time, there is oppotunitiy to applaud those who are kind to her, when let's face it, most of us wouldn't have lifted a finger to help her. There are distinct 'nice' and 'mean' characters, but this is just determinded by how they affect Wendy. Who is to say that she is always in the right? We may be the hero of our own story, but that doesn't makes everyone else the villans. We could very well be the antagonist in their stories, after all. I love the realism of the setting, characters, etc. When described in words, the film sounds like it should be sappy, or at least lifetime channelish. This is not the case at all. It is truly a 'real', believable film. Every aspect takes hold and never lets go. This cannot be described in words, but it is what turns Wendy and Lucy from a contrived, preachy mess, to an artistic, optimistic masterpiece.
Anthony L

Wendy and Lucy is a beautiful film. Subtle, minimalist, slow-paced, - my kind of film! The ending is heartbreaking, It's almost too sad for it to be a happy ending but that is exactly what it is. Without being preachy, Wendy and Lucy reminds us that times are tough and sometimes… More
Wendy and Lucy is a beautiful film. Subtle, minimalist, slow-paced, - my kind of film! The ending is heartbreaking, It's almost too sad for it to be a happy ending but that is exactly what it is. Without being preachy, Wendy and Lucy reminds us that times are tough and sometimes we have to make tough decisions and huge sacrifices but by regaining a sense of integrity and raising up above conviction, everything can be alright in the end. Kelly Reichardt has succeeded in turning the mundane into an uplifting and heart-warming tale, that captures what being human is all about, beautifully at that.
Eric S

A mesmerizing film of a young woman and her dog on their way to Alaska from Indiana in hopes of starting a new life by getting a job at a Northwestern fish cannery. When Wendy's car breaks down in a desolate Oregon town, her financial situation becomes much more of an issue due… More
A mesmerizing film of a young woman and her dog on their way to Alaska from Indiana in hopes of starting a new life by getting a job at a Northwestern fish cannery. When Wendy's car breaks down in a desolate Oregon town, her financial situation becomes much more of an issue due to the fact that she's on such an extremely tight budget. The cinematography is quite effective in the sense that it really catches a dour mood, and the haunting humming from Wendy comes and goes as somewhat of a reminder of how simplicity isn't always so simple. Michelle Williams delivers a fine performance as Wendy Carroll who just can't seem to get ahead, and of course, Lucy, the dog ready to fetch what's thrown even if it takes her into the unknown, followed by her wistful companion.
Nicki M

Very slow moving movie, not an awful lot happens, not a lot gets resolved, and there is no real ending to it. All the same, did enjoy this and was impressed with Michelle Williams who really carries this. Would not be to everyone's tastes.
Mark H

Road movie about a down on her luck woman whose car breaks down in Oregon on her way to Alaska. Michele Williams gives an intimate, heartbreaking performance as Wendy, the woman who continues to experience one setback after another with only her faithful dog, Lucy, to keep her… More
Road movie about a down on her luck woman whose car breaks down in Oregon on her way to Alaska. Michele Williams gives an intimate, heartbreaking performance as Wendy, the woman who continues to experience one setback after another with only her faithful dog, Lucy, to keep her company. Film's low key, deliberate pace may bore some. Patient viewers, however, will be rewarded by its quiet charm.
Rubia Carolina .

Minimalist and great!! Well done and very well portrayed. One of those movies where you can really fell, can really put yourself into the character. One of the best roles of Michelle Williams, imo. <a… More
Minimalist and great!! Well done and very well portrayed. One of those movies where you can really fell, can really put yourself into the character. One of the best roles of Michelle Williams, imo. <a href='http://img23.imageshack.us/my.php?image=71757ba.jpg'><img src='http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/2195/71757ba.jpg' border='0' alt='Image Hosted by ImageShack.us'/></a> A road trip in a wild America where, actually, people are moving in circles or not moving at all. <a href='http://img8.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2008wendyandlucy006.jpg'><img src='http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/4062/2008wendyandlucy006.jpg' border='0' alt='Image Hosted by ImageShack.us'/></a>
Stella D

small, spare and heart breaking film. michelle williams is great. dog lovers beware :'(
Tim S

I really liked this movie. I had caught Kelly Reichardt's first film on cable (Sundance if you can imagine) and I really liked the way that film was shot. I was anxious to see this and it's right up my alley considering it slow, not a lot happens (but there is a story, it… More
I really liked this movie. I had caught Kelly Reichardt's first film on cable (Sundance if you can imagine) and I really liked the way that film was shot. I was anxious to see this and it's right up my alley considering it slow, not a lot happens (but there is a story, it might be a small one, but it is effective), and it has some great performances. The main being the fucking dog who gives a really heart breaking performance (anyone who owns a dog will appreciate it). Michelle Williams is really great in this movie and I hope she keeps on this route. She is extremely talented. Also, there is the great Will Patton who is underrated (see Fled if you don't believe me..yeah, Fled) and does a great job here. Either way, not for everyone, but I liked it a lot.
Lorenzo v

Wendy: "I'll be back for you, I promise" A woman's life is derailed en route to a potentially lucrative summer job. When her car breaks down, and her dog is taken to the pound, the thin fabric of her financial situation comes apart, and she is… More
Wendy: "I'll be back for you, I promise" A woman's life is derailed en route to a potentially lucrative summer job. When her car breaks down, and her dog is taken to the pound, the thin fabric of her financial situation comes apart, and she is led through a series of increasingly dire economic decisions. REVIEW As much as I think this film is both memorable and worth seeing, there were a few too many missing elements and underdeveloped story parts. In some ways, it ends up coming off as the "don't leave home" version of a "don't do drugs" film for teens. The biggest complement I can give this film is that the realism of views, and in some cases beauty, sticks with you. That has to do almost entirely because of how well it's filmed, the imagery it captures. To the actors' credit, everyone is believable and there are no cliché characters. Another interesting aspect of the film is the soundtrack - or essentially the lack thereof. It's integrated into the film, fits the mood of the story, and very memorable.
Leigh R

Beautiful movie, and very low key. LOVED IT!
Kalel J

Simplicity is the driving force of Wendy and Lucy - a film of truth and emotion wrought through an unusual look at the human spirit. Never wavering from the honesty of small town living, Wendy and Lucy is a film stuck in the slums - its character has endured hardships that continue to… More
Simplicity is the driving force of Wendy and Lucy - a film of truth and emotion wrought through an unusual look at the human spirit. Never wavering from the honesty of small town living, Wendy and Lucy is a film stuck in the slums - its character has endured hardships that continue to spiral, yet her persistence becomes a way of living on her way to achieving something in life. Complementing this is Reichardt's keen eye for capturing beauty in the mundane. She has taken an impoverished, straight story and given it a treatment that never detracts from what is needed. But while this approach of focusing on simplicity can often lead to obvious directing choices, it is the restrained performance from Williams that shines through her drab clothing and dirty hair. Her character is a woman travelling with a goal, but halted by the society around her.
William D

[size=3]"Wendy and Lucy" is a still, quiet film about a young drifter ([b]Michelle Williams[/b]) on a cross-continental road trip. Almost nothing happens in the film, there is almost no dialogue, and the direction is crushingly plain and ordinary. I had difficulty… More
[size=3]"Wendy and Lucy" is a still, quiet film about a young drifter ([b]Michelle Williams[/b]) on a cross-continental road trip. Almost nothing happens in the film, there is almost no dialogue, and the direction is crushingly plain and ordinary. I had difficulty maintaining the waking state after about 20 minutes. [img]http://i37.tinypic.com/2ls6vci.jpg[/img] "Wendy and Lucy" is the kind of small, hand-made film that can only work if the director has a third eye for visual poetry. Writer/director [b]Kelly Reichardt[/b] does not have this. In the hands of a director like Lance Hammer, "Wendy and Lucy" might have turned into something significant. Hammer's debut film, "Ballast," which caused a sensation at Sundance in early 2008, has many similarities with "Wendy and Lucy" in that both films are about lower-class characters in dire economic straits. Wendy has taken her dog, Lucy, with her on a journey to Alaska. We meet them when they have gotten as far as Oregon. Trouble emerges when the car breaks down and Wendy is picked up for shoplifting. Lucy is tied to a bike rack for hours while Wendy is arrested and taken to the local police station. When Wendy finally gets back to the supermarket, Lucy is gone. The whole rest of the film involves us watching Wendy look for the dog and try to get the car fixed. At the end of the film there is resolution on both fronts, but by then I was so bored that I could not have cared less what happened to Wendy or her dog. --unfinished [img]http://www.filmweb.no/filmfestivalen2008/multimedia/archive/00130/Wendy_and_Lucy_130030a.jpg[/img] [/size]