'A Greyhound of a Girl' Review: Rare Family-Friendly Film for Adults Too

Director Enzo D'Alo's animated film stars Brendan Gleeson and Sharon Horgan in a charming Irish tale that tackles major life issues from the perspective of an 11-year-old girl.

Young Mary, voiced by Mia O'Connor, is determined to become a professional cook. She is blessed with the warm encouragement of her doting grandmother, Emer (Rosaleen Linehan), who believes the child can do no wrong. 

Immediately standing apart from popular misconceptions about modern life in Ireland, A Greyhound of a Girl quickly establishes that Mary lives in a loving household, surrounded by her boisterous brothers, somewhat clueless father Paddy (Brendan Gleeson), and her mother Scarlett (Sharon Horgan), as well as feisty grandmother Emer, who is in her declining years. 

In the early, especially rebellious stage of adolescence, Mary is at a point where she is constantly testing boundaries, most commonly expressed in her insolent attitude toward her mother. As the two battle it out in a small-scale exchange of hostile words, Mary is unaware of the weight of anxiety that Scarlett is dealing with: Emer has been diagnosed as facing a fatal condition. 

Naturally, as a happy, joyful, and headstrong child, Mary is hopelessly optimistic about Emer. She finds solace when a mysterious woman begins appearing, boosting her spirits. 

For her part, Scarlett is struggling. She realizes that she is clashing continuously with her daughter, and is frustrated by their lack of communication. 

From that common point of unhappiness, the film rebounds by finding touching paths for Mary, Scarlett, and Emer to walk. They each interact with the mysterious woman, but it's not until later in the film that their varying journeys coalesce into something approaching magic. 

A novel for young adults that was first published in 2011, A Greyhound of a Girl was written by Roddy Doyle, an Irish writer whose early novels The Commitments, Snapper, and The Van were all made into well-received films. A Greyhound of a Girl may ring familiar bells for those familiar with his earlier work, since it follows the lives of unexceptional people who must deal with life-changing events. Through those events, they become exceptional. 

Filmmaker Enzo D'Alo is an Italian animator who has been writing and directing feature films and TV shows for some 30 years. His experience becomes manifest as he deftly steers the narrative through tight curves without resorting to obvious turns and twists. 

The animation, by several European houses, melds together seamlessly to present uncommonly lush and beautiful landscapes as background for a diverse collection of foreground settings. The characters are defined by their actions, so that Mary stands out as the sharp, smart sibling, with her bumbling brothers and father providing comic relief.  

Effortlessly shifting into adult territory with convincing authority, the film nonetheless remains a magical adventure that keeps its feet planted firmly in reality. A Greyhound of a Girl is a coming of age story that incorporates heartbreaking scenarios that never depart into schmaltz. 

It's the rare family-friendly adventure that adults of any age will enjoy. 

The film is available via various Video On Demand platforms as of November 1, 2024, courtesy of Good Deed Entertainment.