To each his own, I always say, but my own = this movie was dreadful. Now I have nothing against "chick flicks" and I have nothing against formulaic films, of which this was both, because there's a place for everything & a way to be creative within the genre. I say "very little good" because I can find good things to say: Diane Keaton and Mandy Moore, and heck, everyone else in the cast, are stunning to look at. The architecture, furniture and food of the houses you'll see are GORGEOUS. Beyond that? Oh my God, where to start?
The writing was awful; I get the feeling it could've been better if it hadn't been chop-edited to death. The "look what a wacky family we are!" forced hilarity was paaaiiinful to watch. PAINFUL. OVER AND OVER AGAIN. OH MY GOD. Diane Keaton's character was far too over the top (and contrary to what people have said, no, she does not remind me of my mother or any mother I know. Plus, her costume designer ought to be, ahem, washed up & hung out to dry. Put DOWN those belts and walk away slowly.) There were a couple of scenes that busted out with surprising dialogue or revelations--a couple. The rest of it was just ... let's put it this way, I haven't written a review on IMDb for years, and I felt compelled to do so now.
I'm just glad I didn't pay for the movie, but I apologized to my friend, who had treated me, for wasting her money.
The only other redemptive thing about this movie is that by watching it, I now feel more confident than ever that *I* can get something made in Hollywood.
The writing was awful; I get the feeling it could've been better if it hadn't been chop-edited to death. The "look what a wacky family we are!" forced hilarity was paaaiiinful to watch. PAINFUL. OVER AND OVER AGAIN. OH MY GOD. Diane Keaton's character was far too over the top (and contrary to what people have said, no, she does not remind me of my mother or any mother I know. Plus, her costume designer ought to be, ahem, washed up & hung out to dry. Put DOWN those belts and walk away slowly.) There were a couple of scenes that busted out with surprising dialogue or revelations--a couple. The rest of it was just ... let's put it this way, I haven't written a review on IMDb for years, and I felt compelled to do so now.
I'm just glad I didn't pay for the movie, but I apologized to my friend, who had treated me, for wasting her money.
The only other redemptive thing about this movie is that by watching it, I now feel more confident than ever that *I* can get something made in Hollywood.