Because of Lily Tomlin’s natural talent for satire and comedy, I expected Grandma to be very entertaining. However, writer/director Paul Weitz’s tale about a sad look at a gay poet’s unhappy life is saturated with doom and gloom.

Elle Reid (Tomlin) has ordered her partner -- the lovely younger Olivia (Judy Greer) -- to leave immediately. Surrounded by her first-edition copies of books such as Betty Friedan’s The Feminist Mystique, which Elle thinks are worth a lot of money, her anger appears to be brought on by a hidden fear of aging, which becomes evident in a horrific and woeful bathroom scene.

When granddaughter Sage (Julia Garner) shows up needing help, Elle is happy to see her until she discovers the girl needs $630 for an abortion she’s having later that afternoon. They banter about with Elle offering several solutions to get the money. Sage is steadfast in her decision and has not told her mother Judy (Marcia Gay Harden), although that would be a possible solution because Judy is a successful attorney.

Elle tells Sage she is stone broke and has even destroyed her credit cards. After Sage throws a fit, the two set out on a journey to find some money.  Elle’s priceless books end up having no value. Plus, her friend and transgender tattoo artist Deathy (Laverne Cox), who owes her money, has none to spare.

Dreading it but giving in, Elle finally takes Sage to meet a former lover, Karl (Sam Elliott). That meeting also uncovers more heartache, especially when Karl agrees to the loan, but reneges after he finds out what the money is for.

There’s barely five minutes of dialogue that goes by in the film when Elle is not spouting off some snappish retort, which Tomlin rattles off with the genius that has sustained her incredible career. While I enjoyed the laughs and seeing Tomlin on screen again -- as well as the great performance by Julia Garner -- I did not enjoy Grandma. I realize every film will not end happily ever after, but no one in this entire movie is happy; they’re all miserable with their lives.

SPOILER ALERT

I couldn’t help hoping that by Elle showing her granddaughter you could make wrong decisions and come up against obstacles but still overcome them, it would open Sage’s eyes about not having an abortion.  But that didn’t happen. Very sad.

(Released by Sony Pictures Classics and rated “R” for language and some drug use.)

Review also posted at www.reviewexpress.com.