When I saw the previews for “Everybody’s Fine,” I thought it looked like an enjoyable, light movie, more dramedy than drama or comedy. And to top it off, with Robert DeNiro starring and Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale, and Sam Rockwell co-starring, how bad could it be? Well, it isn’t bad exactly, but when you’re expecting one thing and get something else, you’re disappointed, aren’t you? There’s no comedy or drama at the core of this movie, no life’s lessons learned, which results in pretty bland fare. Sure, Frank Goode (DeNiro) has a few comic encounters as he journeys around the country visiting his four children, but they only generate a faint chuckle. And as far as family dysfunction goes, Frank’s excessive worrying and his children glossing over the truth by telling him ‘everybody’s fine’ isn’t very dramatic. In fact, everything about the story is pretty superficial. Frank is an ordinary guy and though he may have pushed his kids too much when they were younger, he’s definitely a loving dad intent only on ‘getting us all around the same table’ for Christmas. There is a twist at the end of this lackluster story, but it feels contrived, like writer-director Kirk Jones suddenly realized he needed some impact so he tossed in a little tragedy. “Everybody’s Fine” isn’t awful; it isn’t good. It’s…okay. 12/4/09
2 comments:
"Everybody's Fine" is an ordinary movie with an ordinary story and an extrordinary cast. I'd say wait and watch it on HBO.
"Everyone's Fine" is a movie that you expect a lot more and actually get a lot less. This is a boring little story that wastes a lot of good actors! Too bad, Santa!
Post a Comment