Girl has been tricked...
I thought this movie was going to be a light comedy with some pretty great actors in it. I was very wrong. I think I was on the brink of tears throughout the entire movie.
De Niro was amazing as a conflicted older father, recently having experienced the death of his wife. He has become somewhat estranged from his children, as his wife was the bridge between all of them. To set things right, he invites them all over for a summer weekend. When they all cancel on him (that's when the tears started), he decides to travel across the country to visit them instead.
The whole story line is filled with heart-wrenching moments. From simple things, like De Niro alone in his empty house talking to his dead wife, to the more complicated lies his children weave around him to protect him from the harsh truths of their lives. Not all of them became successful like he had so hoped for them, and none of them trust him to be a good father, which is probably the worst part. The huge thing that's appealing about this movie is that he wasn't not a good father due to some commonly used device like alcoholism or adultery. He didn't beat his children or his wife. It's much more simple and relatable than those things. He just was too proud of his kids, too exacting on them reaching their goals. So, unlike the alcoholic, abusive, absent father you are used to in family dramas, we have here a very likable guy who just got in his own way too many times.
There is a scene in the movie where the untravelled De Niro gets attacked in an underground subway by someone he was trying to give money to. He is very shook up from the experience, and what do you do when you are scared? You call your best friend. So, De Niro calls home, where the answering machine still has his wife's voice recorded. He just stands in the telephone booth and listens to it.
Girls' Rating: I approve this movie.
Guy’s not feeling fine review...
De Niro has made some blunders over the last couple of years where he has shown less than talent. Some of the movies that come to mind are “Showtime” and “Hide and Seek”. I give him the benifit of the doubt that those movies were more for the paycheck than the actual art of movie making. I’ve not forgotten what a good actor he is and he reminded me of that in this movie.
Rob plays an old man whose wife has recently passed. Now he has put it upon himself to visit all of his kids to see if they’re fine and get them all to come to a christmas dinner. In traveling the country he finds that the kids are keeping secrets from him both small and really big. He finds that he might have been too daunting of a father and now he has to earn his childrens' trust again.
De Niro’s kids are played by Beckinsale, Rockwell and Barrymore, who all do a great job. The one to watch though is De Niro who once again shows us why he was so great in “Mean Streets”, ”Cape Fear” and “Raging Bull”. I have to admit that this movie played on all my heartstrings and almost had me to tears at many times. They just pulled out all the stops and Girl almost had a heart attack from the sadness.
Guy’s Rating: Watch this, but get ready. You might need to stock up on some tissues.
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