Geetings from Lithuania.

"Ashby" (2015) is a bit predictable yet enjoyable little flick. The story is not fresh, but there are some welcome surprises, although there aren't much of them (and don't want spoil them),they still are welcome.

Mickey Rourke III (i started to call him III because this movie features the 3rd Mickey Rourke's face (and hopefully the last) in his life). Although face is new, acting doesn't changed (just don't compare anything he is ever done with "The Wrestler", because there is a performance in "The Wrestler" and in "everything else"). I did like his acting in "Ashby", but he is more of a screen presence in here, although there are some good dramatic moments near the end. Other were pretty OK. Isn't Emma Roberts a bit to old to play school student?

Overall, "Ashby" is enjoyable coming of age story with some predictable and sweet romance and with some unlikely hero figure. Pacing is good in here, movie doesn't drag and while it adds nothing new to the table, i kinda was waiting for a bit straightforward criminal comedy, but what i saw was bit more serious and mature - and i liked that.

It's a wonderful cast and not a bad production either, so I enjoyed the watch, but did not like the film much. The reason is I had seen a few similar flicks which are much better than this in every way. A school kid and his single parents' struggling relationship and their strange neighbour, so it is the concept I'm familiar with, but the story was a bit different. There are a few good scenes in it, but the most of the parts were dominated by the only the nice events like happily ever after kind of stuffs right from the beginning.

The title role was played by Mickey Rourke, but it was Nat Wolff's film. The narration should have been much better, I mean it should have had more complicated segments. I even don't know how it got the R rating. The writing and the direction, both should have been a bit bolder. There are some people who liked it a lot and defending it, but I'm neutral. To me it was 50-50, I neither liked nor disliked. But all I wanted was a bit better than this, so I can't judge it for other. I hope you make a right decision on this if you plan to watch it.

5/10

Ashby is an unoriginal coming of age dramedy. Misfit Ed Wallis (Nat Wolff) has moved into a new town after his parents have split up.

Ed is a smart alec who wants to try out with the high school football despite not having the build and is a bit of a nerd. He fancies classmate Eloise (Emma Roberts.) Ed also has to put up with his mother (Sarah Silverman) who likes casual sex.

Ed gets friendly with his crusty neighbour Ashby (Mickey Rourke) who he initially approached to find out more about old people.

Ashby gets Ed to drive him around to places and they find out more about each other. Ashby is not a former napkin salesman as he claimed but a retired CIA hitman. He is also very ill and has a short period to live.

While Ashby makes amends that he might have been used to kill people that were never a risk to national security. He also teaches Ed a little about life and how to defend himself. In short Ashby becomes a father figure to Ed.

It is all very hard believe. Ashby and Ed bond very quickly. Ed turns out to be a very good fast receiver on the football field. Ed easily strikes up a relationship with Emma when all through the movie I found Ed to be a mouthy irritant.

Ashby is watchable enough but is a half baked hybrid of various high school themes themes with an uneven tone.