There are plenty of films about the relationship between a young adolescent and older adult figure, with one of my favorites being 2021’s C’mon C’mon. There’s something about this slice-of-life format that’s always such a joy to experience. Seeing two unlikely protagonists bond over their shared issues is constantly heartwarming, no matter how many times it’s portrayed on film. While the structure of No Right Way parallels similar films of the genre, this edition brings a newfound perspective that feels extremely fresh.

No Right Way is written, directed and stars Chelsea Bo as Harper, who is forced to take care of her half-sister Georgie (Ava Acres) after her mom runs into financial struggles. Harper’s attempt to parent Georgie leads to conflict within the family while exposing shared childhood trauma. 

One of the biggest highlights of the film is the chemistry between Harper and Georgie. Acres brings a layer of comfortability to the role, like she’s played this character her whole life. She inherits a blend of childlike warmth with a rebellious nature that realistically encapsulates a Gen Z adolescent. Chelsea Bo’s performance as Harper is the perfect opposition for Georgie. Bo’s reserved persona brings a fulfilling conflict in her relationship with Acres, and watching the two of them grow together is an extreme delight.

It is hard for a film in this familiar genre to go in an unexpected direction, but No Right Way has a few tricks up its sleeve. The film sets up characters and conflicts that appear to go in a predictable direction, along the lines of a courtroom drama, but as the film progresses, Bo’s script throws in new ideas that bring new interpretations to the earlier scenes.

One aspect that kept me guessing throughout No Right Way is the overall theme. While I understood why each character was in need of progression, I wasn’t sure what the main takeaway would be. Like most films, there are many interpretations, but the one that sticks with me the most is its ideas on perspective. While it is easy to judge things on face value, No Right Way attempts to express how there is always more to any given situation than meets the eye. The film makes the case to not judge people or stories based on preconceived notions. Humans are always going through conflict, and while other people process conflict in different ways, it is one thing we all have in common. Harper, and Georgie’s mom, Tiffany (Eliza Coupe), are the defining characters of this theme. While they differ on their methods of raising Georgie, they eventually find they have more in common than they think.

Most of the dramatic moments in the film are extremely impactful, but there were some moments of conflict that felt too dramatized. There are two sequences in particular, one involving a conflict about Georgie’s schoolwork and another involving a tragic discovery. While the inclusion of these scenes work for the plot, the way they are executed feels forced. Moments like these throw off the pacing and ruin the flow of the film.

Even though there are moments of execution where No Right Way falls flat for me, the overall experience is extremely worthy of a watch. Films of this genre are ones I have a soft spot for, but I can distinguish good cinema over my own bias, and this is clearly a competent feature film. From the acting to the script, I found a lot of quality filmmaking in this directorial debut, and I can imagine many others will too.

No Right Way was screened as part of the 2024 Indy Film Fest. Buy tickets here.