Permanent

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2:03

Permanent

PG-13

2017

1h 33m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

38%

Tomatometer

8 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Aurelie, 13, dreams about getting a perm so that she can finally fit in at her small-town Virginia school. Things soon go incredibly wrong when her clueless parents bring her to a beauty school to save a few bucks.

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Frank Scheck

The Hollywood Reporter

Arquette is charmingly endearing as the frustrated Jeanne, Wilson movingly conveys his character's vulnerability as well as his bluster and McLean is terrific as the beleaguered young girl desperate to have a mane like Farrah Fawcett's.

Dec 18, 2017

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Glenn Kenny

New York Times

As Auralie, Ms. McLean is appealing and fresh-faced and could do well in a better coming-of-age movie in a few years.

Dec 17, 2017

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Peter Debruge

Variety

It's not without its charms; they just tend to be suffocated by bad wig jokes, distracting wardrobe choices and Craig Wedren's invasively cutesy score.

Dec 17, 2017

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Brigid Presecky

FF2 Media

Both bizarre and charming, the sincerity of Permanent is refreshingly sweet and a timeless take on coming-of-age.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 16, 2019

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Indra Arriaga

Anchorage Press

Permanent has permanently missed the boat.

Feb 2, 2018

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Brian Orndorf

Blu-ray.com

"Permanent" isn't particularly funny, and Burson's furiously idiosyncratic approach registers as borderline obnoxious at times.

Rated: C

Jan 4, 2018

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Popsicle S.

Off-beat, creative, and super funny. A true gem.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/06/25

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Honeythorn N

Sweet movie.. Loved actresses playing mom and daughter.. Rainn Wilson Rocks..

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/24

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Georgan G

Cute film about overcoming fears. All the characters are lovable, except the bullies who are appropriately nasty. I smiled throughout the entire movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/05/23

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Gayle K

I loved this fun, quirky and feel good movie about a unusual family in a special town. Definitely also fighting back on racism a little in this movie which was supposed to take place in the 70's. Definitely has an indy vibe to it which I really enjoyed. Unique characters and excellent acting. It is a hidden gem and great one to watch. Definitely lighted up my mood.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Decent watch, probably won't watch again, but can recommend. The biggest problem with this is that it is just awkward. Rainn Wilson is really good, but odd as a straight man. He was a serious, but goofy character in "The Office", but this is different: he's serious bordering on sad here with a marriage in jeopardy. The oddest bit is that this is the one movie that Kira Mclean has stared in, she not only leads this movie well, but carries the movie easily. She goes all in with young teen angst in each of the story lines she's in as she's in every story line except for the weirdness with mom almost leaving dad. This is a fine movie, it's a decent coming of age story, "new kid at the school", renewed love, and "finding self" all mixed together, but it's just presented in the weirdest way possible, which I think is all for the setting of "small hick town".

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Love this movie. Great acting by all. The story is told humorously (deadpan) and is realistic and tells of the emotions and dynamics in various types of relationships and of growing up. I highly recommend it. I saw it in Hulu. It's pg13 and watched it with my 13 yo who also enjoyed it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

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Colette Burson

Director

Patricia Arquette

Jeanne Dixon

Rainn Wilson

Jim Dixon

Kira McLean

Aurelie

Jane McNeill

Tommie Jo

Aidan Fiske

Brett

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Permanent: Trailer 1

2:03

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Synopsis

Aurelie, 13, dreams about getting a perm so that she can finally fit in at her small-town Virginia school. Things soon go incredibly wrong when her clueless parents bring her to a beauty school to save a few bucks.

Director: Colette Burson
Producer: Mary Ann Marino, Haroula Rose, Sam Bisbee, Joshua Blum
Screenwriter: Colette Burson
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Magnolia Pictures, Washington Square Films
Rating: PG-13 (Crude Sexual References|Thematic Elements|Language)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 15, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 15, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.7K
Runtime: 1h 33m

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