There comes a point in the movie when the dynamic flips and Terry (Mark Ruffalo) transfers his role as the irresponsible brother to sister Sammy (Laura Linney). It may not seem so, as Sammy has a reasonable position at the local bank while Terry pops up as a freeloader with a criminal record, and becomes a poor role model for Sammy's son Rudy (Rory Culkin). Where the film went off the rails for me was when Sammy wound up in a desperate, passionate embrace with her boss Brian (Matthew Broderick). Where the heck did that come from? There was no build up or progression to their relationship, just bam, suddenly there it was with the both of them sneaking off to hotel rooms to satisfy their carnal desires. Not that boyfriend/former fiancé Bob (Jon Tenney) was any better; gee, what an emotionless, indecisive dud he was.
I can agree with some of the positive reviews for this movie that see it as a slice of life story but one would think at least some of the characters would find closure following all the turmoil they experienced. Sammy's really no better off in her personal relationships, even if she's broken it off with Brian. Terry's off and pursuing his life again while Rudy's left traumatized, I would expect, by learning and finally realizing that his real father (Josh Lucas) is a dirt-bag. And Brian himself? Back to his fractured marriage with a baby on the way.
I thought there was one significant take away scene in the film when Terry went to the cemetery to observe their parents' graves. He places a hand on his mother's tombstone, but not his father's. Instead, he dismissively uses it as a backstop when he sits down to contemplate his life. There might have been some deeper meaning to that sequence if only the picture had pursued it. Oh yeah, I also liked the way Sammy refused her termination at the bank. Don't you wish that was an option in real life?
I can agree with some of the positive reviews for this movie that see it as a slice of life story but one would think at least some of the characters would find closure following all the turmoil they experienced. Sammy's really no better off in her personal relationships, even if she's broken it off with Brian. Terry's off and pursuing his life again while Rudy's left traumatized, I would expect, by learning and finally realizing that his real father (Josh Lucas) is a dirt-bag. And Brian himself? Back to his fractured marriage with a baby on the way.
I thought there was one significant take away scene in the film when Terry went to the cemetery to observe their parents' graves. He places a hand on his mother's tombstone, but not his father's. Instead, he dismissively uses it as a backstop when he sits down to contemplate his life. There might have been some deeper meaning to that sequence if only the picture had pursued it. Oh yeah, I also liked the way Sammy refused her termination at the bank. Don't you wish that was an option in real life?