Evergreen (2004)

Evergreen is composed of standard teleplay material that fails to surprise and engage at almost every turn.

The movie comes to a satisfactory conclusion teaching the lesson that things aren't always as good as they look.

The dialogue is on-the-nose and its lessons are pedestrian, but the film remains a “working poor-trait” of poignancy and grace due to Addie Land's unself-conscious turn.

Dreary and amateurish.

A solid, affectionately told drama, at times wavering the line of excellent, that only disappoints when it doesn't add up to the fully-realized catharsis it is aiming for.

Rife with clichés and precocious artsy-craft.

While the film has striking moments, it feels padded with events that seem freighted with narrative weight but end up not mattering at all to the story.

Zentelis' affection for her characters and the clear-eyed honesty of her storytelling glides us through any unsubtleties.