MOVIE OF THE WEEK (10/17/14): MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN
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| "Honey, what do you say we turn off NetFlix on turn on Vudu ... Or iTunes ... Or our Roku ... Or one of the other of seemingly hundreds of devices that helped inspired this movie in the first place!" (Rosemary DeWitt) lies in bed with her equally connected electronically-but-disconnected-emotionally husband (Adam Sandler) in a scene from co-writer/director Jason Reitman's take on Chad Kultgen's novel MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN. Credit: Dale Robinette. © 2014 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. |
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Adam Sandler, Rosemary DeWitt, Judy Greer, J.K. Simmons, Ansel Elgort, Jennifer Garner, Dean Norris, Elena Kampouris, Olivia Crocicchia, Kaitlyn Dever, Dennis Haysbert, Will Peltz, Travis Tope, Shane Lynch and the voice of Emma Thompson
WRITER(S): Erin Cressida Wilson & Jason Reitman (screenplay); Chad Kultgen (book on which the movie is based)
DIRECTOR(S): Jason Reitman
WEB SITE: http://www.menwomenchildrenmovie.com/60 SECOND PLOT SYNOPSIS (OR AS CLOSE TO IT AS ONE CAN TRY TO MAKE): A film that is more of an indictment on how we have let technology become a substitute for human interaction and conversation more than technology itself, Men, Women & Children stars Adam Sandler and Rosemary DeWitt as Don and Helen Truby, a married couple living in Texas. Growing further and further apart in their marriage romantically, they are going through the motions when together ... Which is why Don spends most of his time looking at pornography on the Internet. Of course, since that's the same thing his son Chris (Travis Tope) spends most of his time online doing, he really can't get too mad at him. Like father, like son, right?
Of course, the Internet is where cheerleader Hannah Clint (Olicia Crocicchia) is looking to make her an instant celebrity, which is why her mother (Judy Greer) helps by designing and maintaining her Web site ... And some of the rather, let's say "questionable" images that may or may not be on it. Meanwhile, former local football star Tim Mooney (Ansel Elgort) has turned to the 'Net to play an online Dungeons & Dragons-style video game, much to the chagrin of his also former football star father (Dean Norris). Then again, since Tim's mom/Dean's wife left them both for greener pastures in California with a new man, neither is exactly in the best of places these days ...
Of course, Brandy Beltmeyer (Kaitlyn Dever in a very "this-would-have-been-a-role-they-would-have-offered-Ellen-Page-4-to-6-years-ago" role) has no such fears regarding her place ... because she can't go anywhere without her overprotective mother (Jennifer Garner) literally tracking her every move, online or off. At least Allison Doss (Elena Kampouris) has a simple problem: She just wants Brandon (Will Peltz) to notice her. Why else would she be starving herself and looking for support online from other girls with eating disorders?
WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST?: People who enjoy realistic-feeling dramas dealing with modern issues; educators, teenagers and parents with good relationships with their children; People who have overcome eating disorders
WHO WON'T – OR SHOULDN'T – LIKE THIS FILM?: Overprotective parents, parents oblivious to what their spouses and children may or may not be doing online; people who hate feeling like they are being preached at (whether they are or not); die-hard high school football fans; users of AshleyMadison.com and other adult Web sites
FINAL VERDICT – IS IT GOOD, GREAT, BAD OR DOWNRIGHT AWFUL? Men, Women & Children is one of those films that comes down to a matter of "what do you believe?" For if you believe that most people – decent people – are not sex-crazed, disconnected from other human beings, fame-crazed, anorexic/overprotective lunatics, you'll likely dismiss the film as over-the-top in making a point, taking some simple problems to extremes and/or just being a paranoid warning shot aimed at Middle America.
However, if you find yourself identifying or feeling empathy/sympathy with and/or for the characters because they connect to your life and/or the lives of people you know, Men, Women & Children is a very interesting fictionalized version of a world that, for many, is all too real.
In adapting Chad Kultgen's novel of the same name to the big screen, director Jason Reitman (who co-wrote the film with playwright Erin Cressida Wilson, adaptor of the 2002 drama Secretary) uses the "average American" to great effect to create intriguing drama in a fresh, non-primetime network fashion. While not diving too deeply into any one topic, Reitman is able to present an environment where each character's motivations and actions are shown as is without judgment, instead letting the audience ultimately play judge and jury in their minds. The premise itself (what are people really doing in their private lives and why) is inherently interesting, so all Reitman has to do – in theory – is not screw it up, right? Well, as most filmmakers will tell you, nothing is ever quote-unquote "easy," which is why films such as Third Person (which came out earlier this year) are already long forgotten.
What Men, Women & Children does well that keeps it from suffering the same fate is that in covering some serious issues, it mixes in some humor to help keeps thing lighthearted in key moments and doesn't go for the kill (figuratively speaking) when it plays things close to the vest and staying "in the moment," if you will. Interestingly enough, while the adult stars are the film's obvious big names, it is the film's young cast members who keep things the most compelling. That helps add to the film's "this matters to parents and their children-vibe, keeping the film watchable just when it approaches the danger of veering off course.
While one could argue all day whether or not the film feels preachy (as many critics that do not write for/maintain this blog already have), if there's one thing you can't deny about Men, Women & Children, it's this: It's definitely a film that will make you think twice the next time you log on ... Or possibly decide to log off.
WHO WON'T – OR SHOULDN'T – LIKE THIS FILM?: Overprotective parents, parents oblivious to what their spouses and children may or may not be doing online; people who hate feeling like they are being preached at (whether they are or not); die-hard high school football fans; users of AshleyMadison.com and other adult Web sites
FINAL VERDICT – IS IT GOOD, GREAT, BAD OR DOWNRIGHT AWFUL? Men, Women & Children is one of those films that comes down to a matter of "what do you believe?" For if you believe that most people – decent people – are not sex-crazed, disconnected from other human beings, fame-crazed, anorexic/overprotective lunatics, you'll likely dismiss the film as over-the-top in making a point, taking some simple problems to extremes and/or just being a paranoid warning shot aimed at Middle America.
However, if you find yourself identifying or feeling empathy/sympathy with and/or for the characters because they connect to your life and/or the lives of people you know, Men, Women & Children is a very interesting fictionalized version of a world that, for many, is all too real.
In adapting Chad Kultgen's novel of the same name to the big screen, director Jason Reitman (who co-wrote the film with playwright Erin Cressida Wilson, adaptor of the 2002 drama Secretary) uses the "average American" to great effect to create intriguing drama in a fresh, non-primetime network fashion. While not diving too deeply into any one topic, Reitman is able to present an environment where each character's motivations and actions are shown as is without judgment, instead letting the audience ultimately play judge and jury in their minds. The premise itself (what are people really doing in their private lives and why) is inherently interesting, so all Reitman has to do – in theory – is not screw it up, right? Well, as most filmmakers will tell you, nothing is ever quote-unquote "easy," which is why films such as Third Person (which came out earlier this year) are already long forgotten.
What Men, Women & Children does well that keeps it from suffering the same fate is that in covering some serious issues, it mixes in some humor to help keeps thing lighthearted in key moments and doesn't go for the kill (figuratively speaking) when it plays things close to the vest and staying "in the moment," if you will. Interestingly enough, while the adult stars are the film's obvious big names, it is the film's young cast members who keep things the most compelling. That helps add to the film's "this matters to parents and their children-vibe, keeping the film watchable just when it approaches the danger of veering off course.
While one could argue all day whether or not the film feels preachy (as many critics that do not write for/maintain this blog already have), if there's one thing you can't deny about Men, Women & Children, it's this: It's definitely a film that will make you think twice the next time you log on ... Or possibly decide to log off.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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