Every performance except one in this movie is quite convincing. The actors all look like they're having a good time and they convincingly come across as real friends and family.
Aside from that, this is a complete mess of a film, lacking any sort of coherent direction or consistent thematic focus.
The movie sets itself up as a collection of memories that are being compiled together to teach a series of lesson to the protagonists' son, Jordan. Then the movie immediately proceeds to be everything except that.
I swear, about half of this movie is just the two lead characters hanging out and making out or having sex. Most of the scenes in the film consist of tedious, insignificant relationship drama that nobody would ever have any reason to put in a journal for a kid to read or learn about.
As for the kid, Jordan, we barely see him at all. We have no reason to understand why he needs to learn lessons from his parents' lives because we don't know what's going on in his life that would make such lessons relevant.
The film's conclusion tries to force in some sort of lesson about the necessity of parents leaving a positive legacy for their kids, and that's a good message. But there was nothing in the story that built to this. We never learned how these parents' lives and examples were affecting their kid's life. It's a finale that is unearned and kind of pathetic.
This is one of the most boring films I have seen this year. It's an aimless 130 minute slog that has no definitive purpose or distinct identity and contains an abundance of scenes that have no bearing whatsoever on the story or characters.
What were you thinking, Denzel?
Aside from that, this is a complete mess of a film, lacking any sort of coherent direction or consistent thematic focus.
The movie sets itself up as a collection of memories that are being compiled together to teach a series of lesson to the protagonists' son, Jordan. Then the movie immediately proceeds to be everything except that.
I swear, about half of this movie is just the two lead characters hanging out and making out or having sex. Most of the scenes in the film consist of tedious, insignificant relationship drama that nobody would ever have any reason to put in a journal for a kid to read or learn about.
As for the kid, Jordan, we barely see him at all. We have no reason to understand why he needs to learn lessons from his parents' lives because we don't know what's going on in his life that would make such lessons relevant.
The film's conclusion tries to force in some sort of lesson about the necessity of parents leaving a positive legacy for their kids, and that's a good message. But there was nothing in the story that built to this. We never learned how these parents' lives and examples were affecting their kid's life. It's a finale that is unearned and kind of pathetic.
This is one of the most boring films I have seen this year. It's an aimless 130 minute slog that has no definitive purpose or distinct identity and contains an abundance of scenes that have no bearing whatsoever on the story or characters.
What were you thinking, Denzel?