This is a movie that held great promise but lost the plot somewhere down the line. I would have liked to have given it a 5 because of its sad shortcomings, but decided a 6 would be more fair, given the following things it had going for it:
Unfortunately, these redeeming points are not enough. The film left me feeling cheated. Why? It was not brave enough. The movie would have been far more meaningful had Kate (Andie MacDowel) and Jed (Kenny Doughty)been *allowed* to stay together as a couple. By killing Doughty's character, the makers of this movie took the easy way out. They showed the world once again, that yes, it is STILL a taboo for older women to date younger men. (While of course it is perfectly acceptable for old men to date girls barely out of school, a theme prominent in movies for decades now) If Kate and Jed had remained together, in the face of all the adversity that they were having to face in the plot, the movie would have delivered a powerful message. As it stands, by killing Jed off, the movie became a bland, run of the mill movie about... what exactly?
This is not unlike what happened this year with Brokeback Mountain. If the plot of the movie revolves around gay people disaster will follow.. Because Hollywood is not ready to portray happy, normal, healthy gay couples. (Nor an older woman-younger man relationship, apparently) A serious disappointment. Surely, this is not the middle ages?
- The music score fit the film perfectly and it was cleverly used in an engaging manner, both for comedic relief and for drama. - Well picked actors for the roles, the result being a very convincing and beautifully comprised picture of a British small-town. - Pleasant to watch, with delightful attention to detail.
Unfortunately, these redeeming points are not enough. The film left me feeling cheated. Why? It was not brave enough. The movie would have been far more meaningful had Kate (Andie MacDowel) and Jed (Kenny Doughty)been *allowed* to stay together as a couple. By killing Doughty's character, the makers of this movie took the easy way out. They showed the world once again, that yes, it is STILL a taboo for older women to date younger men. (While of course it is perfectly acceptable for old men to date girls barely out of school, a theme prominent in movies for decades now) If Kate and Jed had remained together, in the face of all the adversity that they were having to face in the plot, the movie would have delivered a powerful message. As it stands, by killing Jed off, the movie became a bland, run of the mill movie about... what exactly?
This is not unlike what happened this year with Brokeback Mountain. If the plot of the movie revolves around gay people disaster will follow.. Because Hollywood is not ready to portray happy, normal, healthy gay couples. (Nor an older woman-younger man relationship, apparently) A serious disappointment. Surely, this is not the middle ages?