Watch The Planters

The Planters is a quirky comedy-drama movie from 2019 that features two main characters, Martha Plant and Sadie Mayflower, played by Alexandra Kotcheff and Hannah Leder respectively. It is a story about friendship, loneliness, and finding meaning in life. The movie opens with Martha, a socially awkward, self-sufficient woman, burying her beloved mother in the front yard of their home. Having no other family or friends, Martha is left alone with her grief and her garden, which she tends to religiously.

One day, while watering her plants, Martha notices a mysterious woman, Sadie, leaving an envelope in her mailbox. Curiosity gets the best of her, and Martha opens the envelope to find a wad of cash and a note from Sadie, asking for a favor. Despite her reservations, Martha decides to help Sadie and ends up getting drawn into her strange world.

Sadie is a loner, too, but unlike Martha, she is confident, unpredictable, and prone to odd behaviors. She claims to be an undercover alien who is on a mission to save the planet from impending doom. She also talks to invisible beings and makes outrageous statements, which often leave Martha confused or amused.

However, beneath Sadie's weirdness, Martha discovers a kindred spirit who is also looking for a connection. As the two women bond over their shared loneliness, Martha starts to loosen up and embrace life outside her garden. She accompanies Sadie on her eccentric missions, such as posing as a pregnant woman to scam the locals or creating a modern art installation using trash cans.

Along the way, their friendship faces several challenges, including a group of bullies who torment Sadie, a local cop who suspects them of being criminals, and Sadie's real reason for needing the cash, which turns out to be more desperate than imagined.

The Planters is a slow-paced, character-driven movie that relies on the chemistry between its two leads to carry the story forward. Both Kotcheff and Leder give charming performances, with Kotcheff portraying Martha's vulnerability and Leder portraying Sadie's vivacity.

There are moments of humor, surrealism, and poignancy throughout the film, which creates a unique tone and mood. The movie's cinematography is also noteworthy, with several beautiful shots of the California landscape and gardens.

Ultimately, The Planters is a movie about how friendship can bloom in unexpected circumstances and how getting out of one's comfort zone can lead to personal growth. It is a small gem of a movie that may not appeal to everyone, but those who appreciate indie movies with heart and quirkiness will find it a delightful watch.

The Planters is a 2020 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 18 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 77.