I never thought I’d see the day when I’d say that I was actually impressed by a performance of Jessica Alba’s in a movie. The movie I’m talking about is An Invisible Sign, about socially-awkward Mona Gray (Alba) who loves math and becomes a math teacher while trying to cope with her father’s illness.
The dramedy follows Mona during her childhood when her father’s sudden decline in mental health forces her to remove all of the pleasures she sought in life, including finishing college and having a social life- except for her love of numbers which she shared with her mathematician Dad (John Shea). Mona’s mother (Sonia Braga) kicks her out on her own because the twenty-something introvert has no friends and doesn’t want her life to revolve around her father anymore.
It’s easy to see the trend of Hollywood’s leading ladies who get a “make-under” for a role and receive lots of acclaim for it (like Halle Berry in Monster‘s Ball, America Ferrera in Ugly Betty, or Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married). However Alba’s performance shouldn’t be ignored, even though the indie film directed by Marilyn Angelo (Mad Hot Ballroom) has fallen under the radar of mainstream viewers. Alba is perfectly restrained and luminous all at the same time, dispelling any naysayer who thinks that all she’s good for is a tight superhero cat suit or bikini on the beach.
The movie also stars Bailee Madison as young Mona, and has deservedly racked up plenty of roles, including Just Go With It with Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, Don‘t Be Afraid of the Dark with Katie Holmes, and Parental Guidance with Bette Midler and Marisa Tomei. Also worth mentioning is another young actress, Sophie Nyweide (Mammoth) as Lisa, a student of Mona’s, who’s mother is suffering from cancer and represents all of Mona’s childhood fears.
Chris Messina plays science teacher, Ben Smith, and Mona’s love interest. He is the least annoying in this movie compared to his other roles where he’s in the background to such resonating leading ladies like Amy Adams in Julie & Julia or Rebecca Hall in Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
Alba’s best scenes are opposite J.K. Simmons (The Closer), her elementary school math teacher and neighbor, Mr. Jones, who beautifully captures the darker moments of the movie in the most unexpected ways and finally brings some light to Mona’s dreary life by showing her that numbers don’t have the answers she‘s seeking.
The movie flirts with the drama behind Gwyneth Paltrow’s troubled role in Proof, imagination of Finding Neverland with Johnny Depp as scribe J.M. Barrie, and quirkiness of Hugh Dancy’s sweet-natured disability in Adam. By the end, the viewer sees how all the unusual pieces of Mona’s coming-of-age situation have been placed where they are, and we’re still rooting for her to find love, accept her life as it is, and move on to adulthood like she deserves.
If you’re looking for a surprise and something funny, kind of in the vain of Juno, then check out An Invisible Sign. The off-beat dramedy might have missed the mark in terms of critical acclaim, but for the at-home viewer, it’s perfectly unexpected and worth the 96 minutes! If you don’t believe me, check out the trailer below!
Rating: 8/10.
An Invisible Sign is now available on DVD!
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