George Clooney has never been better, Shailene Woodley displays poise and depth beyond her years, and I can't say enough about Robert Forster, Judy Greer, Nick Krause, and even the typically dorky Matthew Lillard.
Thankfully, the terrific acting helps distract from an implausible plot that frequently goes so far off the map that it falls off the edge altogether.
I found it difficult to believe that Woodley's out of control, bitter character would come around so quickly and easily. I didn't buy that Clooney would allow Woodley's dim-bulb boyfriend to tag along with the rest of the family on their journey. And I struggled to accept that the clan would go to such lengths just to make contact with mom's secret lover.
Still, there are some utterly awesome acting moments, most of them so quiet, yet so powerful, that make this movie worth seeing - Robert Forster looking off in the distance, struggling to hold it together when he realizes he's going to lose his daughter; Nick Krause showing sadness and vulnerability with just a faint smile as he tells Clooney about his own father's passing; and Clooney's heart wrenching final goodbye to his wife as tears glide down his face.
Payne got 120% from his actors in this production. It's a shame he couldn't have crafted a script that gave the same.
Thankfully, the terrific acting helps distract from an implausible plot that frequently goes so far off the map that it falls off the edge altogether.
I found it difficult to believe that Woodley's out of control, bitter character would come around so quickly and easily. I didn't buy that Clooney would allow Woodley's dim-bulb boyfriend to tag along with the rest of the family on their journey. And I struggled to accept that the clan would go to such lengths just to make contact with mom's secret lover.
Still, there are some utterly awesome acting moments, most of them so quiet, yet so powerful, that make this movie worth seeing - Robert Forster looking off in the distance, struggling to hold it together when he realizes he's going to lose his daughter; Nick Krause showing sadness and vulnerability with just a faint smile as he tells Clooney about his own father's passing; and Clooney's heart wrenching final goodbye to his wife as tears glide down his face.
Payne got 120% from his actors in this production. It's a shame he couldn't have crafted a script that gave the same.