Butter (also titled Butter's Final Meal)[5] is a 2020 American comedy-drama film directed by Paul A. Kaufman and starring Mira Sorvino, Mykelti Williamson, Brian Van Holt, Ravi Patel, Annabeth Gish, McKaley Miller, and Alex Kersting. It is based on the novel of the same name by Erin Jade Lange.[6]
| Butter | |
|---|---|
 Official release poster | |
| Directed by | Paul A. Kaufman |
| Written by | Paul A. Kaufman |
| Based on | Butter by Erin Jade Lange |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Greg Gardiner |
| Edited by | Garry M.B. Smith |
| Music by | Jeff Toyne |
Production company | Power of Us Entertainment |
| Distributed by | Blue Fox Entertainment |
Release dates | |
Running time | 111 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1.75 million[3] |
| Box office | $114,036[4] |
The film was released on VOD and select theaters by Blue Fox Entertainment on February 25, 2022.[2]
Plot
editA severely obese high schooler from Scottsdale, Arizona nicknamed "Butter" is becoming increasingly suicidal by the day. He got his nickname from being forced to eat a whole stick of butter by a bully named Jeremy Strong. Butter's only joys in life besides eating are playing the saxophone at a jazz club with his music teacher, Professor Dunn, and chatting online with his crush, Anna McGinn, while he poses as a stranger named "JP". Butter is an only child with an overprotective mother, Marian, a real estate agent who enables her son's unhealthy eating habits, while his father, Frank, is a former football captain, distant and disillusioned after a freak accident left him blind in one eye.
At school, Butter's attempt to stop Jeremy from harassing Anna backfires, and receives many humiliating comments on the school blog. As December begins, Butter announces that he will stream himself eating to death on New Year's Day. This makes him quickly popular in school, and suggestions for his final menu begin piling up on his webpage. He also begins hanging out with two classmates, Trent and Parker. They even help Butter plan a "Bucket List" of fun activities to do before he goes through with his final meal. Even Anna grows closer to Butter, who reassures him that everyone thinks he is joking. As Butter's mental health and self-confidence improves, his appetite drops dramatically.
Butter is invited to party on New Year's Eve. After he plays a song he wrote for Anna on stage, he reveals himself to be JP, to Anna's shock. As he tries to apologize, Anna slaps him. Butter punches Jeremy as he intervenes, prompting Anna to cut ties with Butter completely. As midnight arrives, Butter resumes his original plan, while everyone in the party watches his stream. To everyone's horror, Butter undergoes an anaphylactic shock upon eating strawberries — being knowingly allergic — and Anna calls emergency services.
Butter wakes up in the hospital a few days later, and apologizes to his family and Anna. Though sympathetic, Anna is still angry and clarifies that Butter was never a romantic interest. She expresses her disappointment of Butter's deception, that JP turned out to be him. She did not post a profile picture because she wanted to be accepted for who she was and not judged for her looks, which is also what he struggles with and ironically, what he did to her. Butter begins attending therapy, learning that what he went through was bullying all along, disguised as popularity. Still, Butter, his family, and his doctor are pleasantly surprised to learn that he has lost 50 pounds in just two weeks. His parents grow closer to him and Marian ceases her enabling behavior by serving him healthier meals.
After Butter's release from the hospital, Anna comes to visit him one day and the two reconcile. He reveals to her that his real name is Marshall. They become friends again, but Butter has overcome his infatuation with Anna. When he returns to school, his classmates greet him warmly and call him by his real name. After a conversation with Professor Dunn, Butter looks forward to a successful future as a saxophonist.
Cast
edit- Alex Kersting as Butter[7]
- McKaley Miller as Anna McGinn[7]
- Adain Bradley as Trent[7]
- Jack Griffo as Parker[7]
- Matthew Gold as Tucker Smith[7]
- Mira Sorvino as Marian[8]
- Mykelti Williamson as Professor Dunn[7]
- Ravi Patel as Doctor Bean[7]
- Annabeth Gish as Doctor Jennice[9]
- Brian Van Holt as Frank[6]
- Monte Markham as Dr. Kaufman[6]
- Jake Austin Walker as Jeremy[10]
Release
editButter was released on VOD and select theaters by Blue Fox Entertainment on February 25, 2022.[2] The film was screened at the Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival[7] and the Socially Relevant Film Festival in 2020.[5]
Reception
editBox office
editIn the United States and Canada, the film earned $73,937 from 308 theaters in its opening weekend.[11]
Critical response
editThe film currently holds a 43% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 14 critical reviews.[12]
John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a negative review and wrote, "While it may resonate for some young viewers, anyone whose reality really resembles that of the film's protagonist should probably look elsewhere."[7]
Pat Padua of The Washington Post wrote a somewhat more favorable review. "'Butter' doesn’t have a fairy-tale ending, but it still feels a little pat in the end, and a few of the monologues sound like something out of a public service announcement. Ultimately, it is, like its conflicted hero, sweet and likable, and you wish it well."[10]
References
edit- ^ "CINEQUEST WORld's PREMIER BUTTER by Iride Aparicio". Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
- ^ a b c "A Bullied High Schooler Plans a Web Stunt in 'Butter' Official Trailer". October 24, 2021. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
- ^ Park, Audrey (February 25, 2022). "'Butter' is an important and heartwarming film for teens". U-High Midway. Archived from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
- ^ "Butter (2020)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
- ^ a b Martin, John Henry (December 2, 2020). "'Butter's Final Meal': A film about bullying will be shared with Napa Valley students". Napa Valley Register. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c N'Duka, Amanda (December 7, 2018). "Mykelti Williamson, Ravi Patel, Annabeth Gish, Newcomer Alex Kersting Plus More Join Mira Sorvino In 'Butter'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i DeFore, John (April 2, 2020). "'Butter': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
- ^ N'Duka, Amanda (October 15, 2018). "Mira Sorvino To Topline Indie Drama 'Butter' From Paul A. Kaufman". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
- ^ Kay, Jeremy (May 18, 2020). "Mira Sorvino drama 'Butter' joins Arclight Films Cannes virtual market slate (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
- ^ a b Padua, Pat (February 22, 2022). "'Butter' review: Movie about bullied teen is, like its hero, sweet and likable". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
- ^ "Domestic 2022 Weekend 8". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
- ^ "Butter's Final Meal - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
