A film with a lot of intriguing plotlines that I wanted to love, but it suffers from a lack of confidence. There are two intertwined issues with this May-December movie. The movie opens up with a premise that is pretty unique: an older woman meets a young man who in almost every way--including his physical looks--resembles a dead former lover: think Hello I Must Be Going crossed with Cloud Atlas. Laura Linney and Topher Grace don't have great chemistry, but this is mostly waved away due to the quasi-mystical nature of their relationship.
Throughout the middle third, the journey meanders into other aspects of the leading lady's life, including her relationships with her ex-husband, best female friend, and brother. These notes feel a little strained, and it's unclear whether the film is on the main character's side or on those of the minor characters. This is not being done in an interesting, ambiguous way, but rather in an uncertain way that suggests it doesn't know what it thinks about Linney's character. For a moment, it feels as though the ending will be some sort of alternate-history realized 20 years later when Linney's and Grace's characters get together.
However, the ending pulls the rug out from under this. It turns out that Topher Grace's character is actually just a normal guy who has a similar name and the exact same body as his supposed predecessor. In other words, there's no real reason why these two people got together, except she's lonely and he's...there? There honestly is no reason for him to be with her or really for her to stay with him.
As much criticism as I'm levying, the movie is relatively unique and certainly well made from production, direction, and acting standpoints. There are two themes in here that would be worth digging into: a female-male May-December romance, and a Christmas Carole-esque revisiting of past choices via a reincarnated lover. Alas, the film splits the difference, to the detriment of both.
A film with a lot of intriguing plotlines that I wanted to love, but it suffers from a lack of confidence. There are two intertwined issues with this May-December movie. The movie opens up with a premise that is pretty unique: an older woman meets a young man who in almost every way--including his physical looks--resembles a dead former lover: think Hello I Must Be Going crossed with Cloud Atlas. Laura Linney and Topher Grace don't have great chemistry, but this is mostly waved away due to the quasi-mystical nature of their relationship.
Throughout the middle third, the journey meanders into other aspects of the leading lady's life, including her relationships with her ex-husband, best female friend, and brother. These notes feel a little strained, and it's unclear whether the film is on the main character's side or on those of the minor characters. This is not being done in an interesting, ambiguous way, but rather in an uncertain way that suggests it doesn't know what it thinks about Linney's character. For a moment, it feels as though the ending will be some sort of alternate-history realized 20 years later when Linney's and Grace's characters get together.
However, the ending pulls the rug out from under this. It turns out that Topher Grace's character is actually just a normal guy who has a similar name and the exact same body as his supposed predecessor. In other words, there's no real reason why these two people got together, except she's lonely and he's...there? There honestly is no reason for him to be with her or really for her to stay with him.
As much criticism as I'm levying, the movie is relatively unique and certainly well made from production, direction, and acting standpoints. There are two themes in here that would be worth digging into: a female-male May-December romance, and a Christmas Carole-esque revisiting of past choices via a reincarnated lover. Alas, the film splits the difference, to the detriment of both.
