Welcome to Me (2014) User Reviews

Quirky and endearing deadpan humor.

[lnvicta · 7/10 · 12 May 2015]

Kristen Wiig had already won me over with Bridesmaids and this is just further proof that she has the comedic chops to carry an entire movie. It revolves around her character Alice Klieg, who was taking meds for her Borderline Personality Disorder before she won the lottery and subsequently ditched her psychiatrist and used the money to make her own talk show. She's a die-hard fan of Oprah so her show is basically Oprah except there are no guests or anything. It's all about her. Hence, the title of the show (and movie) "Welcome to Me".

The comedy in this movie is extremely deadpan. If you're not a fan of that style, then you will not like this movie. It's like the awkward humor of Bridesmaids mixed with the underlying seriousness of Love & Other Drugs, and the usual quirky Wiig mannerisms that make her such a likable and charming lead. There are sad moments in the movie, there are laugh-out-loud funny moments as well, most if not all of which come from Wiig and her drab interactions with other people. Alice is completely in her own world - she acts almost sociopathic towards other humans. She's very crass and has no filters with what she says making for some extremely uncomfortable and hilarious situations. But it's obvious that she has good intentions and a good heart, which makes her great as a sympathetic lead.

The supporting cast are all great. I can't single out every one but I will say that this is James Marsden's best role in a while. He plays a network executive who picks up the talk show, and he has some good material to work with this time. It shows the more dramatic side of his acting chops instead of being a cardboard cutout romantic lead like he was in crap like The Best of Me and Walk of Shame. The whole cast is brilliant really, with the obvious highlight being Kristen Wiig absolutely embodying this character to a tee. It's the performance of her career so far without a doubt.

The only real complaint I have is that the tone of the movie isn't very consistent. It's not even due to the subject matter, because Love & Other Drugs and 50/50 also dealt with both disease and comedy and found a perfect balance between them. Welcome to Me just feels clunky at times, pacing wise, and it makes for a few dull spots here and there.

Again, if you're not a fan of deadpan, dry, sarcastic humor then this movie is not for you. However it is a wonderful dramedy that makes you think, laugh, and maybe even appreciate life just a little more.

Interesting but not entirely satisfying

[cherold · 7/10 · 14 February 2017]

Welcome to Me is a distinctly odd movie about a woman with a boderline personality disorder diagnosis and millions of dollars in lottery winnings who decides to have a vanity TV show all about her. It's an interesting idea, and it kept my attention, but I feel it wasn't quite the movie it might have been.

First off I'd like to talk about borderlines, because I've known a couple. Googling around I've found a few articles describing this movie as either a good or bad portrayal of BPD. Since BPD simply means you exhibit a large number of traits from a list (impulsivity, self-harm, etc.), Alice is acceptable as a borderline. And since being borderline can exist with other conditions, like depression or narcissism, you can't really complain about less typical borderline behavior.

That being said, Alice doesn't seem like borderlines I've known, and lacks some commonly known BPD qualities. For example, borderlines are often very good at feigning normalcy. I once saw a BPD friend, ranting and raving after sneaking out of a psyche ward and trying to kill herself, instantly become calm and rational when the cops came to check on her. Many psychiatrists don't like working with borderlines because they can feel tricked when that patient convinces their doctor that they're fine now right before a suicide attempt.

Alice, on the other hand, is just purely odd. And her oddness seems to come entirely from her mental illness. It is as though Kristen Wiig was so concerned with getting the symptoms right that she never thought about who Alice would be without her mental illness. But in truth, people with mental illnesses have traits that have nothing to do with being mentally ill (although some psychiatrists do try to fit everything about their patients into their diagnosis).

Because of this, Alice is an interesting character but not a really compelling one.

Meanwhile, the intriguing premise never quite gels. Is the movie a satire of celebrity and our fascination with trashy talk shows? Is it an attempt to portray mental illness? Is it an attempt to get laughs out of mental illness?

I never really felt this movie had a vision, or a point of view. Like the main character, the story feels like it's a bunch of ideas stuck together rather than a cohesive drama.

While the movie feels a little undercooked, I did enjoy it. Wiig may seem more like a mildly autistic narcissist than a borderline, and the story may feel unsubstantial, but it is amusing to watch Alice create her entirely peculiar show and get into weird dietary fixations. The movie may not make a coherent whole, but the pieces are pretty good in themselves.

There ain't nothing like it!

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 14 August 2015]

I think the film "Welcome to Me" is not for everyone and I am not surprised that the reviews are rather divergent. It's certainly a strange movie and one that might or might not appeal to you-- probably depending on how much you are willing to watch a film that often makes you embarrassed and has a very, very dark sensibility.

When the film begins, Alice (Kristen Wiig) has just won the lottery. However, she is mentally ill and foolishly decides that now she's rich, she doens't need her medication any more. So, she stops taking it and soon is blowing through her many millions of dollars. What does she blow it on??? I self-financed TV show all about her! It has very little in the way of conventional structure and the show is crazy...and, oddly, people think it's good. I assume they think it's meant to be a comedy...but the crazy antics and total self- absorption they see IS Alice.

The film is a very interesting character study of a woman with a Borderline Personality--especially of one whose hold on reality is very tenuous and whose narcissism is extreme, even for a Borderline. I was impressed by this character as well as her psychiatrist (Tim Robbins) as it looks as if whoever wrote the film knew about mental health issues and/or consulted with mental health professionals. Usually in films psychiatrists and psychologists are more caricatures--goofy one-dimensional idiots. Robbins' character is realistic, however-- with appropriate borders and methods. As for Wiig, she was entrancing in this strange role.

I am not 100% in love with this film--it is, at times, tough to watch and its overall message is certainly strange and mixed. Also, I hesitate to recommend it to everyone because Miss Wiig does a nude scene in which she's VERY nude....so be forewarned. An interesting film to watch if you feel like you've seen it all.

A pleasant surprise

[Gordon-11 · 13 August 2015]

This film tells the story of a woman with psychiatric illness, who wins $86 million from the lottery. She pays a production company millions of dollars to create her own TV talk show about the story of her life.

"Welcome to Me" is a pleasant surprise. The woman in question, Alice, is quirky but fun. She initially is awkward add a TV host, but as she gains experience, she becomes quite good at it. Her show is actually quite fun, even though I know it is wrong to like it because that is an exploitation of an unwell person. The ending is really quite touching, because she makes amends with her part and everyone around her. And the film also tells the belief that lottery winners often go back to the square one, but in here her journey to square one of a fulfilling journey.

A definite insight to mental health disorders, but definitely not for everyone.

[yuschaa · 7/10 · 21 August 2016]

Welcome to Me stars Kristen Wiig as Alice, a woman who suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). When she won a lottery that grants her a sizable amount of money, she produces, acts, and stars in a TV series entitled: Welcome to Me.

First and foremost, this is the most endearing thing Kristen Wiig has done, outside her usual comedy movies. The way she portrays Alice is so heartbreaking and detailed, sometimes funny, but also feels authentic. The supporting cast did a good job too, especially Linda Cardellini.

However, this movie is definitely not for everyone. As the title and the premise suggests, this movie is going to be all about Alice and her world. Alice's actions are questionable and maybe some audience can't digest that properly.

If you're interested in movies about psychology issues, then this is definitely a movie for you. Otherwise if you want to feel good, you might want to pick up something else, as the constant melancholy and confusion this movie brought will disillusion you, forcing you into saying "What the hell was that?" when the credits roll.

Once again, nicely done Kristen Wiig

[subxerogravity · 6/10 · 6 June 2015]

It's the perfect part for Kristen Wiig. It's a dark comedy that seems to work for her style.

She did a terrific job at bringing humor to a real serious issue at the same time being sensitive toward the seriousness of it, which I've seen her do before in stuff like the Skeleton Twins.

A mentally ill lottery winner spends her winnings to become the next Oprah on a talk show that expresses her own self absorption.

The movie is driven by Wiig with a well rounded, well known cast supporting her, that includes Linda Cardellini( who I really like)James Marsden and Joan Cusack.

It's a great Dramedy to watch.

Disappointing

[kbilling50 · 2/10 · 21 August 2015]

As a therapist that treats borderline personality disorder, I was very disappointed in this film. The portrayal I found to be inaccurate and insulting. BPD is now well understood to have clear causes and very good treatment (Dialectical Behavior Therapy). The film did nothing to help shed light on this often mysterious disorder. Tim Robbins gave yet another embarrassing portrayal of a therapist who was incompetent, uninformed, and unethical. Many people with BPD are extremely intelligent, creative, funny, and interesting. Kristin Wiig's character was none of these things. The only character who was funny was Joan Cusak. If you or someone you know is suffering from BPD, find a therapist trained in DBT or go to NEABPD.org

For some, expressing themselves means lot than being a rich.

[Reno-Rangan · 7/10 · 24 April 2016]

This is actually a good film that misled by its low rating. But the end should have been really better, other than that the rest of the film was enjoyable. Another small scale movie and another excellent performance by Kristen Wiig. The story of a single woman with the borderline personality disorder. After winning the $80 million through the lottery draw, she decides to own a television show to talk about her personal life. She begins to lose her close ones as the result of her out talk about them, but can she fix it and how is the remaining.

This is a unique story, not like that you see it often in the movies. Apart from Wiig, the rest of the supporting cast was not bad, but very sad to see such a good looking wonderful actress like Linda Cardellin in a small role. If you hate slow pace, this movie might be an average to you, but others who won't mind will find it better. What I surprised to know is that most of the film critics thumb upped for it than the film goers. But I still suggest it, mainly for the film fanatics, just give it a try and so you might like it than what you've heard about it.

7/10

Typical Hollywood take on mental illness:

[countfloydlife · 4/10 · 9 May 2018]

This film has a few chuckle worthy moments, but I find most of it cringe worthy. Whenever Hollywood decides to portray a mental health issue, it is almost always underplayed or just way over the top. As someone who has had BPD his entire life, I feel this film is a reflection of the second option. There are some elements of Alice's behavior that I can identify with, but certainly not too that extreme a degree. Just because someone has BPD it doesn't mean that they are a total train wreck. Even when we see Alice when she is "medicated", her behavior to me is unrealistic for someone with this condition ALONE. This is only my take based on my own experiences though, and realize that everyone's situation can be completely different from mine. If you want to get a more fact based, serious point of view on BPD, there are several good YouTube videos out there. This is just entertainment, which at the end of the day is really all it's intended to be, from a business point of view. Even on that basis alone though, I still don't find it as entertaining as a film like Lars and the Real Girl.

Bizarre, Interesting, Unique, and pretty Funny

[imdbtruth · 7/10 · 5 June 2015]

This movie was worth watching at home, but I would feel gypped if I had paid $10+ to see it in a theater... Kristin Wiig does a pretty spectacular job playing this type of character without annoying the viewer too much... If you read my other reviews, you'll know that I'm always on the look out for various forms of symbolism and propaganda, luckily this film seemed to have very little of either... Except of course for the obligatory homosexual couple that they had to make sure everybody knows that they're homosexual, but unfortunately this is typical... I'm not asking to pretend that gay people don't exist on film, but lets have them exist as they do in real life, which is a pretty limited quantity, not 1 out of every 5 men is gay as portrayed by Hollywood... Sorry, it just annoys me as a hetero male, but I digress...If you're looking for an oddball comedy, "Welcome to Me" is definitely watchable... It 's really like a 6.3 movie in my book, but it's currently rated lower than that, so I'll give it a little bump and rate it at a 7....

This movie is not only offensive, but damaging to those with BPD

[SpaceOctopus · 1/10 · 20 June 2017]

The director & writer should be ashamed of this film. All it does is spread MORE misinformation, misrepresent a horribly excruciating problem, and on top of that, exploits those with it.

This is not even close to an accurate depiction of BPD, and this film will only do one thing- further stigmatize this horrible affliction, making people even more hateful & cruel, which is already a bad enough problem right now.

Their complete misunderstanding of the disorder is nauseating. Don't see this movie. Don't see any movie about a character with BPD, because it has always been done ridiculously poorly & has stigmatized those with it further. To a huge degree.

If you want to actually learn a bit about it, go to Wikipedia, and you will find a very accurate detailing of the disorder, without bias, prejudice or ignorance.

my sister has borderline.

[ld-31974 · 10/10 · 27 May 2015]

I cried the whole movie. Happy happy enlightening tears. I felt like I was watching my sister on screen. It felt like one big old metaphor being in the audience, as I feel kind of like an audience member of my own family.

My sister who has BDP is the strongest person I know. This disorder is a rough one and those who have it are true warriors, however as a result of my sister's disorder, I have been neglected by my family my whole life. It took me a really long time to fully realize this, but now that I do I am finally starting to find self worth.

This movie not only captures what it's like to have BDP, but whats it's like to close to someone with BDP. Seeing Alice's relationship with Gina hit me really hard. Gina is so strong and I hope I can be like her once I find more confidence in myself. Seeing her stand up for herself is something I hope I can one day do.

The fact that someone out there decided to add some humor to such a hidden, stigmatized, mental illness, really truly brings light to the my broken heart. I am so so so so so so thankful for this movie.

Bravo.

Unconventional But Warm

[nitro72 · 7/10 · 17 March 2019]

Unconventional but warm exploration of a broken person who uses her own television program as public therapy; well written & directed, it deftly walks the line between playing mental illness for laughs & treating it with respect.

I can't believe I wasted time on this movie

[silvervtx · 3/10 · 21 May 2015]

I normally like dark comedies. I normally like weird movies. But the main character is not likable. It is a movie about a woman who has borderline personality disorder. Again, normally I like this. But the character wasn't funny, was so self indulgent that the main character lacked any attraction. I began to start skipping along in the film, which to be fair, may not be fair to the film. However, after going back and forth in the film, I could still not find anything in it that was interesting, funny, quirky, etc... The only redeeming quality this film had were the other characters in it. Specifically Tim Robbins and Lisa Cardellini, and James Marsden. Don't waste your time or money on this film.

Great acting, oddball film

[Red_Identity · 10 May 2015]

Yeah, it was a very weird, very odd film. Certainly not the same-old, same-old, so in that respect I was so enthralled by it all. I do think maybe the film needed a stronger directorial hand though, maybe someone who could find a more consistent, more tight balance on both the comedy and drama, and the pitch black humor. As it is, it does feel messy because of that... something about the film needed some polishing, I'm just not sure what. Wiig was really good, and actually a lot more impressive here than in The Skeleton Twins. Linda Cardellini was almost MVP, stealing her scenes like a pro. it could be funny and awkward, which is what it went for, but yeah I feel like in the hands of a better director (writer too) it could've been something really great. As it is, a solid B

Wiig makes it worthwhile

[zetes · 7/10 · 6 July 2015]

Kristen Wiig plays a woman with borderline personality syndrome who wins $86 million in the lottery. A big fan of Oprah and late night infomercials, she hooks up with some TV people (Wes Bentley, James Marsden, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Joan Cusack) to produce her own show, which will be an in depth explanation of her own life. The set-up is pretty great, and there are a lot of funny scenes. Unfortunately, it never really seems to go anywhere. Fortunately, Wiig is so good in it it's well worth watching (and it runs under 90 minutes). There's little doubt at this point that Wiig is one of the best actresses around nowadays, and she perfectly skirts the line between comedy and tragedy here. Much of the rest of the cast is wasted. There's no reason Jennifer Jason Leigh is even in the film, for instance (they could have combined her character with Cusack's and saved a few bucks). Linda Cardellini, Tim Robbins and Alan Tudyk also co-star.

Money makes the world go round...

[opiostheloego · 7/10 · 18 May 2015]

There is one certain rule in life and that is whoever has the money can exploit others and can be exploited by others. You can become anyone you want, you can make the world go round, you can buy and sell yourself to others. You may have all your demands realized and think that you own the world. You may think that all you personal issues that keep on eating you alive from the inside can go away, like they have never existed simply because you have the power and the strength (that you think that) the money give you.

We are watching the hunger for salvation of an injured soul, full of traumas, and the suffering mind of hers struggling to escape from the dead end that her mental condition keeps her trapped. She has become so attached and in love with TV, the ridiculousness, and the fake reality it represents, that when luck makes her a millionaire she chooses to become one of these "role models" she keeps on watching and she buys a show of her own.

Alice the heroine in this film is perfectly made for Kristen Wiig and her deadpan humorous character. She is amazing and she is shining. I can not imagine anyone else than Kristen Wiig and I am sorry to say that, but this film couldn't have existed without her. In general terms point is taken but sometimes it is essential to have something more given to the viewer, concerning such important matters of exploitation. Matters that they have become a routine to all of as that none is paying attention anymore, considers them granted simply because they entertain.

Like the World's Worse SNL Skit

[david_stever · 1/10 · 2 March 2018]

Like a car accident in the next lane, I watched 30 minutes of this, wondering if it was ever going to get any less uncomfortable. Eventually, I drove past the accident, then I couldn't even see it in my mirror, and I found something else to watch.

crazy/ weird people

[dar0417 · 7/10 · 2 September 2020]

This movie shows how crazy/ weird people are so wonderful and funny

Not worth your time.

[kaleidoscope-facebook · 2/10 · 18 August 2015]

I did not enjoy this movie. It seemed to make fun of mental illness more than anything. There is basically this girl with mental problems who thinks she can cure herself so she takes herself off of her meds, and all of her loved ones support this decision and let her put herself on TV so all of America can watch the mentally "retarded" girl make a fool of herself. I just don't buy that people would watch her show for any other reason, and I found that to be very sad. It ruined the movie for me. I don't know anyone with Borderline Personality Disorder, but I take anti-depressants and I have close friends with other mental illnesses, and I found nothing realistic about this portrayal of mental health in general.

The TMI Show

[ferguson-6 · 6/10 · 8 May 2015]

Greetings again from the darkness. There is no shortage of films that feature some type of mental illness or disorder. Folks that don't "fit in" make for characters that create unusual situations and generate cinema's biggest friend – conflict. Cast a talented performer who thrives in "off-center" roles, and the potential exists for some actual insight.

Kristen Wiig is obviously attracted to unusual characters, as well as stories that wobble between comedy and drama. Here she plays Alice Klieg, a woman diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Alice memorizes Oprah shows, spends hours watching infomercials, and attends state-mandated therapy with her psychologist (Tim Robbins). She also has many inappropriate social tendencies and is a consistent player in the California Lottery – a ritual that pays off nicely when she wins $86 million.

Once she collects her winnings, Alice decides to drop her meds cold and move herself into the spotlight. She relocates from her dank apartment into a suite at a local Indian Reservation Casino, and then buys airtime from a local infomercial studio run by brothers (Wes Bentley, James Marsden) in order to star in her own show, "Welcome to Me". With the help of a swan sled as a prop, Alice moves forward with a two hour TV block that is centered on her own thoughts and re-enactments of the most traumatic moments of her life. It's about her personal pain, but also painful for the show's producer played by Joan Cusack.

It's difficult to tell what screenwriter Eliot Laurence and director Shira Piven (brother to actor Jeremy, and wife to director Adam McKay) are trying to accomplish here. Poking fun at mental illness is a delicate undertaking, but perhaps they meant this as more commentary on a society that is so quick to latch onto the troubles of others … whether as news or comedy. It could also be a statement on the narcissism that runs rampant these days, as Facebook is filled with selfies and photos of meals.

It could be argued that Alice's TV show could be more accurately titled "TMI", but it's unfortunate there just doesn't seem to be more substance here. Sure, there are some highly awkward and uncomfortable moments – some quite funny, but the movie really plays more like an extended comedy sketch, and whatever works seems due to the stellar cast: Wiig, Marsden, Bentley, Cusack, Robbins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Thomas Mann, and the underutilized Linda Cardellini. Just like "Perfect Polly" in the opening infomercial, what's real and what's real enough are in the eyes of the beholder, and perhaps this one could have used one more prepared statement.

Somewhat funny, a bit disturbing

[floatingpolarbear · 5/10 · 17 September 2015]

Kristen Wiig is interesting to watch as she is the master of inappropriate behavior done hilariously. Since her character has a debilitating mental illness, that behavior is like watching a slow train wreck unfold as the lottery winnings add fuel to her peculiar fire. The movie peaks in the moment when the Wiig character starts filming her wacky show but doesn't really go anywhere after that. The story stays in low simmer throughout, neither too funny nor too dramatic. I would have liked it to commit to comedy, in the spirit of What About Bob with Bill Murray. Wiig has that same talent but it's not really used to the max here.

I loved this movie

[claudiasofialagos · 9/10 · 15 June 2015]

I am writing this review because I honestly think that its current rating does not do this movie justice. People seem to be disliking this movie because its not the Kristen Wiig movie or humor they expected. Or, because they have some opinion or experience on borderline personality disorder. Valid reasons, sure, but just take this movie as is, without any preconceived notions about what it should be. Its hilarious, and weird, and honestly the funniest movie I've seen in a long time. And, it has this perfectly charming mix of having a pretty unbelievable timeline but at the same time, being scarily relatable in a lot of ways. Highly recommend.

Kristen Wiig's Best Role To Date....

[MovieHoliks · 7/10 · 24 August 2015]

For some reason, it seems recently I've been seeing Kristen Wiig in one film after another, and I'll have to say this is her best role to date. In "Welcome to Me", she stars as a psychiatric patient who wins the mega-lottery of $86 million, who then decides to go off her meds and - inspired by her "Oprah"-viewing, buys her own talk show. This talk show, like "Oprah" and "Dr. Phil" basically follows the format of taking on a certain topic, only in it's case, the star is also it's host and guest rolled into one- hence the title, "Welcome to Me".

This character could've easily been one of her SNL skit characters, but Wiig eventually takes the whole thing to another level, using the show to get to the root of her all her problems. For those reading this, I would like to ask you this question-->> if YOU could have your own talk show, what would it be about??- what would it be like?? Linda Cardellini, Wes Bentley, James Marsden, and Tim Robbins round out the cast.

The writers picked out a random psychiatric disorder out of a hat

[lynnedfoghart · 4/10 · 27 July 2019]

I'm pretty sure the writers just picked a name of a disorder out of a hat at random and proceeded to do no research whatsoever. Instead they showed a character whose strange compulsive habits seem more in line with an intense form of OCD potentially, whose social difficulties seem more in line with Asperger's potentially, and whose remaining bizarre behaviors seem more in line with maybe a mild disorganized schizophrenia?? In any case, the point being - literally nothing she does, says, or any of the ways she behaves coincide with what Borderline Personality Disorder even is so whyyyy are they using it? This is lazy writing. BPD people don't traipse about in public going I'm cRAAAAAaaAAAAAzzzy, or doing other strange things again more in line with schizophrenics or street people or the like. The bulk of problems would not be all that observable to the public eye, except perhaps scarring from self-harm, unless under rare circumstance she experienced some manner of emotional crises in public; otherwise, as it is something more focused about personal self-image, self-identity, and self-worth combined with intense relationship difficulties with loved ones - really only lovers and family and friends would be really coming across any stranger behaviors. Otherwise, no, the bizarre behaviors are not even remotely in keeping with BPD. I think the character's either misdiagnosed or the authors didn't do any research.