FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Phillida Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Darin One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

oparthenon Given my summary above, I have to remark just briefly (the cynic in me being brought out by this and similar films) it's bound to be a sure-fire hit with the 'all films should be a slice of the worst part of life' crew, of which there seem to be many in the under 30 crowd. Is the film about the suicide of the youth? the mother's way of dealing with this tragedy? the father's? the brother's? One of these isn't enough for this clichéd and unoriginal script. It has to tackle everybody's reaction at once, leaving the viewer wondering if any one reaction is really genuine.As a study of American family life it fails to come to terms with its own ambiguity.Sorry, thumbs down.

holdenstevie Have just seen this film, in Australia on satellite. As i have been avoiding the news more so than usual over the last week coming from the US of A regarding gunmen, well to be absolutely blunt, this film is a prescient gem. A big bravo to all involved. i had only a small idea of what the film entailed as is most often the case for good effect and this certainly came up with cinematic goods. the setting of the scene is effective in the truest sense of the word, with all the hairy confronting subjects of today's world in relation to one's own faltering family, albeit suburb. The first forty minutes sets such a professional theater i was not ready for the out loud laughs when they came. Although the cathartic moment built via comedy and character as the family and neighbors came together in an extraordinary way.All in all a foreseeing of who and what we are. A most meaningful film and a must see.please note the date of this review.

wood_bee Watching this film is often not a pleasant experience, but then it isn't meant to be. The main protagonist, Tim, seems very passive - a sort of 'everyman' character, pushed around by life - whereas I wanted to slap both his mother and his father more than once. However as the film went on it became obvious that everyone had a good reason for behaving the way they did; everyone was harbouring a secret, and sometimes more than one. I don't agree with the other commenters who felt the ending was too neat; there was at least one major plot-line unresolved - i.e., what happens to Tim's relationship with Kyle in the light of Tim's new knowledge about his father? The whole Tim/Kyle dynamic was beautifully done. Their immaturity in dealing with their feelings for one another worked superbly in the context of their ages. It also informed the darker thread of Tim's relationship with Matt, and if there's a standout performance in the film for me it has to be Kip Pardue playing against type as the tortured older brother.The only quibble I have is that I couldn't quite see why Sigourney Weaver and Jeff Daniels, as the parents, would ever have been attracted to one another in the first place. They were both excellent, but somehow just failed to convince me that they ever were or ever could have been a married couple.It's an uncomfortable film, certainly not a compilation of familiar clichés, but it has a lot in common with "Monster's Ball" in the way it stays in the memory, provokes thought, and ultimately gives one hope even for the most dysfunctional of relationships.

Jesseca Lamb This is a fantastic movie revealing the truths about family under severe stress. This was such a touching movie. It is so honest. It's very memorable and I'm recommending it to you.Your own experiences with family life will probably be similar, however less dramatic. The strength of a family is tested here and they attempt to find strength in their own weaknesses working through grief and denial. If you have ever felt alone in your world, you'll be able to connect. It's a refreshing perspective on reality that will give you a wide range of feelings most movies neglect to attempt. Watch it, you'll love it.