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Growing up is hard enough for the average kid with an average, healthy, happy family. But in writer/director Ally Walker’s Sex, Death and Bowling, one boy struggles with the usual pre-teen trials, trying to live a somewhat normal life, while his family deals with illness, loss, and broken relationships.
Sex, Death and Bowling finds 11-year-old Eli McAllister (Joshua Rush) wrestling with some pretty grown-up issues. His father, Rick (Bailey Chase), is fighting a losing battle with cancer. His mother, Glenn (Selma Blair), is lost in her grief. And his uncle, Sean (Adrian Grenier), a successful fashion designer, has returned to town, opening up old wounds in the process. The only bright spot in Eli’s life is the upcoming Fiesta Cup bowling tournament. The McAllister family’s team wins every year—but, without Rick, another win is far from certain.
Much like real life, this indie drama refuses to fit neatly into any genre. At times, it’s a heartbreaking story about illness and death and saying those final goodbyes. And the moments when family and friends gather around Rick’s bed are often difficult to endure, the pain and grief evident behind each character’s eyes.
At other times, however, it’s a light family comedy about overcoming differences and working together. The bowling alley is like a completely different world—and when the characters gather there, they (and viewers, too) get the slightest reprieve from the harsh reality of their lives. The changes in tone can feel a bit jarring at times, but the storytelling is honest and sincere.
At the center of it all is Eli, an adorable young outcast who’s just trying to be a normal kid. And in tackling such a challenging role, Rush manages to give a strong and heartfelt performance. Each day, Eli goes to school and is tormented by the school bully. He hangs out at the bowling alley with his grandpa and keeps the stats for the bowling team. Meanwhile, at home, his father is slowly slipping away, and his mother fights to hold on—and, for the most part, Eli is left to cope on his own. While he tries to remain upbeat for his family, he’s also trying to understand issues of life and death, heaven and hell. And, in return, his feuding family members choose to overlook their differences to give him something to look forward to.
Here, however, is where the film struggles. Eli’s experiences alone could have given the film plenty of drama and light humor. But Sean’s part of the story—with its mysteries and flashbacks—gets more attention than necessary, cluttering the film with subplots. The character certainly comes with his own baggage—but it ends up diluting the drama.
Sex, Death and Bowling isn’t an easy film to watch. It’s heavy and heartbreaking, but it’s also surprisingly sweet—making it a moving but somewhat muddled drama.
Ed. Note: For more on Sex, Death and Bowling (including release dates and show times), visit the film’s Facebook page.
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