THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI"
(2017) (Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson) (R)

QUICK TAKE:: Black Comedy/Drama: A woman must contend with the backlash stemming from her attempts to shame the local police department for having not solved the rape and murder of her teenage daughter.

PLOT:

Mildred Hayes (FRANCES McDORMAND) is a middle-aged woman who lives in Ebbing, Missouri and is fed up with the fact that the local police department, run by Sheriff Bill Willoughby (WOODY HARRELSON), has not yet solved the kidnapping, rape, and murder case involving her teenage daughter from seven months ago. Divorced from Charlie (JOHN HAWKES) -- who since been seeing 19-year-old Penelope (SAMARA WEAVING) -- and raising their teenage son, Robbie (LUCAS HEDGES), Mildred decides the best way to spur on further action is by shaming the police department. To do so, she rents out three billboards from Red Welby (CALEB LANDRY JONES) just outside of town on a barely traveled road and uses them to call out Sheriff Willoughby on not solving the case.

That doesn't sit well with the sheriff who has bigger concerns regarding his terminal pancreatic cancer that will soon leave his wife, Anne (ABBIE CORNISH), widowed and alone to raise their two young daughters. His deputies, including racist hothead Jason Dixon (SAM ROCKWELL) -- who lives with his mother, Momma Dixon (SANDY MARTIN) -- don't take kindly to the public slight, although she gets some support from her coworker, Denise (AMANDA WARREN), and a local man, James (PETER DINKLAGE), who seems attracted to her.

As town pressure mounts against her and Jason becomes more of a loose cannon, Mildred stands her ground, determined to get justice for her daughter's murder.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Those who are fans of anyone in the cast or R-rated black comedy type films might be interested in this.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R: For violence, language throughout, and some sexual references.

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