Kristen does it again- convincingly plays a troubled girl – this time a 16 year-old stripper who needs to be saved!

Was Kristen Stewart Oscar-worthy in Welcome To The Rileys — some people think so. But her seasoned costars James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo definitely deserve nods for the portrayal of their tortured characters.The film centers around Doug [James] and Lois [Melissa] who’ve been married for 30 years, but ever since their 15-year-old daughter died in a tragic car accident three years earlier, their marriage  has been torn apart by grief and guilt. When Doug goes to New Orleans for a convention, he runs into Mallory [Kristen], a 16-year-old runaway stripper who reminds him of his dead daughter, he makes the emotional decision to try bigtime to save her from her life of drugs, sex, and poverty.

Gandolfini is gripping in his role as a depressed, middle-aged guy, and Kristen mastered her stripper moves so convincingly she actually got offered a role as a real-life stripper by a local strip club owner who saw her rehearse.

But the breakthrough performance that I’m worried will be overlooked is that of the agoraphobic, heartbroken wife, Lois. Melissa did such an amazing job with this character that I could feel her pain in every scene. Every parent who has ever lost a child will undoubtedly relate to Melissa’s emotional performance.

If you’re looking for a tear jerker, tug at your heartstrings kind of movie, then this is the one for you. And if you’re  a K-Stew, fan then this is a must- see too.  I give it the HL stamp of approval

— Chloe Melas