Writers: Lisa Cholodenko/Stuart Blumberg
Year of Release: 2010
RECOMMENDED
Alright I guess I should review some of the flicks I've been watching. I feel quite bad, I've watched quite a few new and old films and not reviewed them. Right, so. Lets do this.
Sexuality is a funny thing. And one would think that this is the central theme of this film, which would be quite alienating to a large majority of audiences (yes I'm talking about you, libido-less heterosexuals). However it is about something much more universal (somehow) - Family. This is a film about family at it's core, as heartwarming, realistic and beautiful as they come. What's so fascinating to me is how successfully it avoids becoming a gimicky, unrealistic "oh this situation isn't ideal so let us commence in laughing about it" romcom. Each character is fleshed out, their actions and reactions imperfect and confusing and somehow absolutely lovable and forgivable. The nuclear family gets schooled here on how to maintain a happy, functional family, regardless of conventions, and it's the lack of which that makes the film so utterly appealing and engrossing. The final frames of the film resonate in such a universal way, that it manages to strike almost every core of human emotion, in which we ask ourselves - Will everything be all right? It is in this moment that one comes to the realization that the film not only stands for love and family, but also for hope. For where we'll be in the next five years, or 50. Hope that no matter where we'll be, what shocking or horrific experiences we go through, that everything will be okay in the end. And while it doesn't provide the answers, it does a damn poignant job of posing the questions.
Overall rating: 8.7
Status: AWESUM
Nice! Agreed on all counts; this is a really moving film. The ambiguous last few scenes are especially great. A much better kids going off to college ending than the slightly sappy one in Toy Story 3 (no offense to toy story 3).
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