CineQueen78 For whatever reason, I started this film thinking it was about a woman finding love and companionship later in life. I usually like those kinds of films because they are something different from the usual fare of 20-somethings romance movies. It wasn't too long ago I saw Debra Winger's comeback film entitled "The Lovers," so that's probably why I had this assumption. However, the movie is actually a very bleak family drama about death. It shows how an upper middle-class social circle handles life in the aftermath and ambiance of death and dying. It made me cringe a little bit to see how the adult sons react to everything, but I suppose that really is how young people respond when they confront the realities of life for the first time. In summary, they react very poorly and with indignation, as if life owes them something and they expected better. I am actually younger than these characters, but I have encountered disease and death so much in my life already that all of this is far too familiar to me. I would say this film is not an unrealistic portrayal of this subject matter. The central message is that, despite death, people go on living as normal. The human drama never stops. Life is for the living and there's not much time to waste out of our finite lives to grieve. People chase endlessly after love and romance despite the futility of it all. Honestly, this is why I refuse to have children. I dislike life and by not reproducing it's like my way of having revenge against it. I would not want my children to face these horrible things like aging, death, disease, loss, and heartbreak. Other people think breeding is a great idea, though. It does make good fodder for screenplays and art films.The movie is a little pretentious, but I appreciate the non-linear editing and the fact that it makes you think a bit and face a truth that most people like to hide from. It also helps that Andie MacDowell is very beautiful and it was nice to see her again. She was easily the best part of this movie. There is another film that deals with the same subject matter in a less depressing and more comedic way named "The Savages" (2007) if you're interested.

Byff Arlington Watched this yesterday and came away with questions, the biggest of which was why did I ever watch it in the first place. Filmed like a reality show, meandering here and there and could have only been worse if a hand-held camera had been used. Definitely did not like the director's technique or style. Never found out what the father/husband's malady was, found it hard to determine who Nicholas' latest sex partner was, found the segue from wake to Nicholas' wedding engagement announcement dinner was confusing. The only good thing I can say about this film is Chris O'Dowd's well acted performance as the stupid-beyond-words and for me, loathsome Nicholas. He did such a good job that I doubt I could ever like him in any future character portrayals.

jill-89556 I was hoping to be able to lose myself in this film but alas all I wanted to do was leave the theater. Hung it but it never got better. All of the characters were so flawed that it just wasn't believable!

slthaut-42320 Too slow, maybe I'm just not a big "artsy" film fan? Couldn't really feel for any of the characters. When I read the synopsis before renting, I read the words "Chris O'Dowd" and "funny", so thought about giving it a try. It's not all that funny. I just wasn't into it.