When you find a Hollywood movie about alcoholism, it will very often, if not almost always, be the man of the family who has a problem. But that isn't always the truth. It has been proved that there are more and more women who are developing a drinking problem. With this movie, Hollywood finally proves that it isn't as conservative as we often like to think.
This time it is Meg Ryan's character Alice Green who has overdeveloped her taste for alcohol. When her addiction threatens her life and their daughter's safety, there is no way back for the airline pilot Michael Green and his wife, but to face the consequences of her drinking problem. She goes into therapy and overcomes her problems, but now it is the man who has to try to live with a woman who's no longer the same one he once married. He was used to have complete control over the family, but now that Alice has been cured, she can no longer accept this...
The main problem that I had with this movie was that I didn't really believe Meg Ryan. Of course she wasn't really drunk while on stage, but it also never felt real to me. It all looked too acted. Take for instance the scene where she starts throwing with eggs to that car. I just didn't buy that one. Andy Garcia was better. In my opinion he was convincing enough as the concerned house father / airline pilot and I don't really think there are many other actors who would have done a better job with this role...
Even though I find it more than OK that the studio's make a movie about the subject of alcoholism, I would like to see a more realistic version of it. With this movie I had the feeling that it all went a bit too easy to get rid of the addiction (not that I have any experience with it). What I did like on the other hand was that they also showed the repercussions on the family once she is declared sober. Overall I would say that this is a good attempt, but far from a perfect one. I know there are many people who find this movie perfect, but I really can't follow them in their opinion. The best I can do for this movie is a 6/10.
This time it is Meg Ryan's character Alice Green who has overdeveloped her taste for alcohol. When her addiction threatens her life and their daughter's safety, there is no way back for the airline pilot Michael Green and his wife, but to face the consequences of her drinking problem. She goes into therapy and overcomes her problems, but now it is the man who has to try to live with a woman who's no longer the same one he once married. He was used to have complete control over the family, but now that Alice has been cured, she can no longer accept this...
The main problem that I had with this movie was that I didn't really believe Meg Ryan. Of course she wasn't really drunk while on stage, but it also never felt real to me. It all looked too acted. Take for instance the scene where she starts throwing with eggs to that car. I just didn't buy that one. Andy Garcia was better. In my opinion he was convincing enough as the concerned house father / airline pilot and I don't really think there are many other actors who would have done a better job with this role...
Even though I find it more than OK that the studio's make a movie about the subject of alcoholism, I would like to see a more realistic version of it. With this movie I had the feeling that it all went a bit too easy to get rid of the addiction (not that I have any experience with it). What I did like on the other hand was that they also showed the repercussions on the family once she is declared sober. Overall I would say that this is a good attempt, but far from a perfect one. I know there are many people who find this movie perfect, but I really can't follow them in their opinion. The best I can do for this movie is a 6/10.