Mary Kay Place, Scarlett Johansson and Aleksa Palladino star in this breakthrough drama entitled,Manny & Lo.This is debut feature from writer/director Lisa Krueger that tells the story of orphaned teen-aged sisters that are living on the run, stealing food, and sleeping in random model homes.Two sisters, 11-year-old Amanda,also known as Manny; and 16-year-old Laurel,nicknamed Lo, run away from several foster homes, sleeping wherever they can, including in model homes.Lo is the rude, bossy, incompetent leader, and younger sister Manny is her thoughtful, realistic, logical underling. It quickly becomes apparent that Lo is pregnant and they won't be able to continue their wandering lifestyle of "keep moving and you won't get nailed." After a significant stage of denial, Lo goes to a hospital for an abortion and is denied. Quickly running out of options, Lo comes up with plan that seems ridiculous to the observant narrator Manny. Since they don't know anything about birthing babies, they kidnap Elaine, a middle-aged woman dressed as a nurse who works in a maternity store. Together, the three women squat in an abandoned house in the woods so the disgruntled Lo can have her baby. Eventually, the owner of the house comes home and the captive Elaine resorts to a strange solution to the problem.This is an unapologetically small but wholly original movie, warm- hearted but not precious, and possessed of a gently wacky sensibility.Though employing no surreal devices and remaining within a realistic convention, Krueger takes the story of two young sisters on their own and somehow makes it seem unreal, strange, outside time.Also,it is a sweet little fable only a bit shy on substance but quite charming in the telling.Overall,it is a movie that will leave viewers with a warm glow.

I can hardly write something more about this gem considering the comments below. Without any spoiler given I only reveal to you that this movie is wonderfully well acted, plot is very appealing, kind, humorous and highly enjoyable. Really. Really really.Go and see it. Now. 9/10

"Manny & Lo" tells of two runaway girls and the how they deal with the challenges which arise when one gets pregnant. What this film lacks in big budget blockbuster appurtenances it more than makes up for with it's creative and unpredictable story, depth of character, raw charm, tongue-in-cheek humor, and insightful sensitivity. A wonderful little "sleeper" which necessarily starts slow and builds delivering pound-for-pound much more than films with many times the hype and box office. Most likely to be appreciated by females and more mature males.

This movie was wonderful. The characters were developed so well I felt as if I knew them. Mary Kay Place was in top form. This movie was unpredictable yet allowed you to come up with your own view as to the future of the characters in the end. This is one of those movies that are a diamond in the rough; a movie that once given a chance, and viewed will be watched by many because of word of mouth. I loved this movie!