Winter Film Festival - If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
- Matt Palmer
- Feb 21
- 3 min read
The Winter Film Festival is coming up fast and make sure to keep on checking my Wyoming County Press Examiner reviews page on Facebook to see the film festival selections that I plan on checking out during the festival at the Dietrich Theater. The first festival selection that I checked out is “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.”
The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2025 and had a domestic release by A24 on October 10, 2025. The film has received positive reviews, especially for Rose Byrne’s performance receiving universal acclaim, earning her the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance (presented at the Berlin International Film Festival) and a Golden Globe Award. Byrne has also been nominated for the Critics’ Choice Award, Actor Award (SAG), BAFTA Award and Academy Award for Best Actress.
With her life crashing down around her, Linda tries to navigate her daughter’s mysterious illness, her absent husband, a missing person and an increasingly hostile relationship with her therapist.
The highly acclaimed film “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” is a visceral, anxiety-inducing experience that captures the raw reality of maternal burnout with unsettling precision. The performances also really stand out, primarily from Rose Byrne and a rare dramatic performance from Conan O’Brien.
Rose Byrne really gives it her all as Linda, who’s slowly unraveling under the pressure of a sick child and absent husband. This actress definitely can do anything - from comedies to horror to intense dramas - Byrne seems like she can do it all.
Her performance in this film is definitely Oscar-worthy and her ability to be manic and brittle while remaining compelling is an incredible highlight of the film. Now even though her character (Linda) is slowly breaking down due to everything going on, there are times that the character can be unlikable, such as when she has a bit of a breakdown during a support group and a few other moments that you’ll have to see.
Both Conan O’Brien and rapper-turned-actor A$AP Rocky perform stand out performances as well. O’Brien portrays an unnamed, no-nonsense therapist who serves as a dry contrast to the chaotic emotional unraveling of Linda. He easily disappears into the therapist role, trading his typical comedic energy for a detached, almost cruel professional.
A$AP Rocky portrays James, who’s a somewhat refreshing and relatable character who’s staying at the same motel as Linda. His performance can also seem like a bright spot in the film, until his character gets mixed up with Linda’s unraveling life.
“If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” definitely has some moments that are truly intense and can be a little difficult to watch. The radical choice to keep the daughter off-screen and only hear her voice is actually quite unique. With only hearing her voice, it helps the viewer stay aligned with Linda’s perspective who sometimes sees her daughter as a burden at times.
Overall, the film offers an uncompromising look at maternal exhaustion and mental health. While the film can be a little hard to watch due to its relentless, stressful and sometimes depressing tone, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” is one of those films that should be seen at least once.
Cast: Rose Byrne (Linda); Conan O’Brien (Therapist); A$AP Rocky (James); Mary Bronstein (Dr. Spring); Christian Slater (Charles); Danielle Macdonald (Caroline); Ella Beatty (Kate); Josh Pais (Brad); Delaney Quinn (Linda and Charles’ daughter)
Writer/director: Mary Bronstein
MPA: Rated R for language, some drug use and bloody images (runtime 113 minutes)
The show dates and times for “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” during the Dietrich Theater’s Winter Film Festival are as follows: Sunday Feb. 22 - 2:30; Monday March 2 - 12:00; Wednesday March 4 - 2:15; Wednesday March 11 - 7:30.
If you can’t make it to the festival to see this film, it is also available to stream currently on HBO Max.
The hamster scene was inspired by a real incident involving director Mary Bronstein's child, which she later adapted and heightened for the film.
The film was shot over a compact schedule of approximately 27 days.
Conan O'Brien appears in a dramatic supporting role, marking his first significant serious acting performance in a feature film rather than a comedic or cameo appearance.
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