Poor Isabel is in the middle of all the bitterness left from the separating of the Harrison family. Any chance she can to be cruel is immediately put on Isabel. Ben is sweet and silly most of the time, but he follows along with his sister.
They both follow behind their mother, Jackie, played by Susan Sarandon. Isabel was not the reason for the divorce, but Jackie gives her full homewrecker status. She would be happy if Isabel left.
Jackie’s issue is Isabel’s inability to parent. Isabel doesn’t want children. Anna and been are part of what came with Lukas. She’s doing the best she can, but it’s evident that her best will never be enough unless she stands up to Anna and Jackie.
Jeff Millar said in his review, “Off come the gloves. These parts are juicy, and Roberts and Sarandon deliver the blows with relish.”
The filmmakers make you care about these characters’ problems.
Isabel loves Lukas, they become engaged, and likes his children, and she would be really happy if they would give her a chance to show it.
Millar noted, “Lukas -- the role cannily cast with the undisputed Nicest Guy in Movies -- does what he can to intercept the mortar shells Isabel and Jackie lob at each other while he waits for Jackie to accept the therapeutic value of their divorce.” They know they are parents still and are equally making sure to give the welfare of their children.
Millar mentioned, “Jackie is a tiger-mother who has made her children her life's investment. Yes, she is being too hard on lemur-eyed Isabel.” However, we know that a person as good as she can change, given that she sees the chance as good for her children, and given the right substance.
That’s when we go to the hospital and see Jackie being labored through the CAT scanner.
Five people are given screenplay credit, which surpasses by two the number that asks, “Does anybody know that this movie is about?” Millar mentioned, “This may account for the rather arbitrary turns the narrative often takes, steering provided by the kind of TV-movie dramatic dialogue that's followed by characters slamming doors, storming upstairs or sweeping china off a buffet and then collapsing in sobs.”
You may also have a complaint that you won’t be able to come to terms with but would be find by removing 20 minutes from the film’s running time.
However, on balance, Chris Columbus’ direction is on point. Roberts really does her part very well against the powerhouse Sarandon.
Malone is skillful as Anna, and Aiken is very adorable as Ben.
At the end, there might be some tears that will fall from certain viewers faces. If the filmmakers were waiting for that sound to pop the champagne, watch out for the corks.
This is a good movie. I don’t understand why critics didn’t like this, as I thought this was a feel-good family drama. After watching this, I felt at ease. There is a famous part that I was familiar with, probably because my dad mentioned this. That is when Sarandon is singing Ain’t No Mountain High Enough with her children. That song was also in “Sister Act 2” and “Remember the Titans,” which is surprising, but it’s a classic. Check this movie out if you haven’t because you will love it, I promise.
Look out next week to see what other excitements I have in store for in “Julia Roberts Month.”
No comments:
Post a Comment