MovieChat Forums > Book of Love (2004) Discussion > Going to DisneyWorld? *Spoolers*

Going to DisneyWorld? Spoolers

posted 19 years ago by JustCuriosity
13 replies | jump to latest

I generally liked this film and found it pretty interesting and believable. However, I found the whole idea that a man would invite a 15-year-old kid who just torn his heart out by sleeping with his wife to join them on a vacation to Disney World to be really bizarre and unbelievable. If I were him, I'd want to get this person who had betrayed him and get him completely out of my life as soon as possible. I'd want to break off all contact, not increase my contact with him. And why would the other two agree to this strange trip that was clearly destined to end in disaster. In this otherwise, realistic and intriguing film, this just rang false...any other thoughts?

[–] jeansheridan 19 years ago

I agree that it was very bizarre and I tried to justify it because so much of the rest of the movie worked. I thought maybe Dave was trying to make Chet into a child again. By taking him to DisneyWorld, by pretending to be the Uncle/Dad character, he could re-assert his authority. Also, from the the get-go, Dave did treat him more like a kid than Elaine did, other than the drinking.

That was one moment in the movie that bugged me. I think there should have been a moment when Dave hesitated to give this kid wine, especially since he was a teacher.

[–] cata_caterpillar_girl 19 years ago

that's a good interpretation of it. here's what i thought:

at first i thought it didn't fit, but it was a half-assed decision by David. he didn't want to seem angry, at either of them since he was still fond of the both of them, so he goes all out on the DisneyWorld thing and even feigns excitement for the sake of both of them. also for himself, as he'd probably rather not even think about how Elaine slept with Chet. in the end, he tries too hard at trying to be a good guy and he eventually can't bottle his anxiety.

among all of this, Elaine is clearly unhappy because she can see through his fake smile.

or it could be this, but it seems less likely:

David premeditated everything. he purposefully put them in this intensely awkward situation, even himself, just to see them squirm. that might be why he was smiling during the car ride to the resort.

[–] rigorousobject 19 years ago

I think it was simply a competition thing. Dave was working out and scheduled the Disney thing to try and compete with Chet for Elaine's attention. It was evident that Dave was reminded of his youth (smart and athletic) through Chet. You can tell that they led parallel lives at different times when Chet ends up with Heather (Dave's student).

I think this film was greatly put together. The relationship was all to real and people normally do stupid things out of desperation and jealously, hence, the Disney land trip.

I liked the other two reasons posted for this also.

[–] jeansheridan 19 years ago

I kind of liked that final hook-up with Heather. I was actually expecting them to meet earlier in the film. I especially liked hearing the landmine go off. That seriously cut down on any potential sappiness.

I also liked that all three ended up in separate places, but they were okay. Not great, but clearly surviving.

I think it was pretty well constructed movie too, given time and budget constraints. I'm sure they didn't have a long time to edit it. Or a lot of extra footage.

[–] styxtoo 19 years ago

i think Dave enjoyed putting them in the awkward situation.. the way he was smiling during the car ride..

i just feel bad for Dave .. he was the innocent one . and out of the 3 he looks the worst off.. sure he said taking care of the kid is what makes him happy right now.. but sitting there in his little apartment.. eating a popsicle .. with a scar on his knee.. i just feel he got the short end of the stick..

which is what makes the movie realistic.. endings aren't always cheery

[–] gelguitarist1 19 years ago

How interesting that "Book Of Love" begins (after a couple scenes) and ends with Dave eating ice cream.

[–] Bladerunner 19 years ago

Here is why this movie is dumber than dirt, and even though it is... well... dumber than dirt, it still has merits. First, there is no damn way that Dave would go on the Disney trip, and even less believable that Elaine would go. She is disgusted with Dave's behavior, and she knows that the trip to Disney is not cool. It simply is not believable.

Secondly, DAVE IS CLUELESS! He acts like he doesn't see anything going on with Chet and Elaine. What kind of idiot doesn't see the flirting going on between them? He is a very astute person, yet he is all smiles and naive about the stuff going on between them. Because, the chemistry between Frances and Gregory Smith is electric, it is blistering from the moment they enter the same frame. It is so powerful that there is no way these two could be in a movie together where chemistry would get in the way with the plot. I have to believe that they hooked up during filming, because I just like believing that. <grin> From the first second I see them together I just couldn't concentrate on the movie, anything, until they kissed, and I didn't give a s**t about the rest of the movie once it was clear they wouldn't hook up again. Well, I was hoping that Dave would have a momentary lapse of judgment and start kissing Bryce's character.

Frances O'Conner is such a *beep* woman, and I really hesitate saying that because I don't get vulgar like that often, but she just sparks something in me that is primal, visceral, I just can't concentrate on the film when she is in a situation that is remotely sensual. Only Kate Winslet and a couple others are like that for me. I guess it's because I know Frances is so intelligent, and I see the wheels turning no matter what she is doing, it's like she's working out the secret to the universe with the greatest of ease. She is the only woman on screen that actually makes me feel secure, which is the strangest, most confusing thing in the world to me. I am not a person who feels insecure at all, and yet I feel that way. It's like she's a mom and a lover at the same time (minus the incestuous implications of that). The fact that Chet drops to his knees — every time they are intimate — was eerie, because she evokes that kind of maternal archetype to me. Strangest about that is that she is younger than me by about five years!

Lastly on the reason this movie was dumber than dirt in the believability department, Dave totally falls apart when he learns of the affair, and his character wasn't a person who would do that. He is strong and resourceful, and he wouldn't start stretching and flexing in front of his wife, and asking her to feel his "rock" hard thighs, that is just stupid.

Another thing that is stupid is, how the hell does Chet end up with Bryce's character at the end of the film in Cambodia? He doesn't even know her! What is that?! Well, it's truly dumb, that's what that is. He says to her, "Heather, that's a nice name", like he just met her. These two just end up in Cambodia, out in the country, and they meet, and a land mine goes off. AWWWWW!!!! STUPID!!

Anyway, two awesome actresses in this, Frances and Bryce make it a must-see, as well as the incendiary chemistry between Smith and O'Conner. Otherwise it is just a mess, it really is just a total goofy train wreck of a movie. And that is really sad because it could have been so good, and the idea the writer/director had was very good, but it derails and implodes due to the writer being unwilling, or unable to sustain believability in his character's behavior. Bummer. In the future, less close-ups of grass growing (or water dripping off of it) and more character development.

"...nothing is left of me, each time I see her..." - Catullus

[–] john-lippman 19 years ago

I disagree that "they were all okay." In the last scene of Dave alone in his grotty apartment, going to the freezer, pulling out an ice cream bar to eat alone on his bed in his briefs, doesn't look like such an "okay" situation to me. He looked miserable, alone, broken. Very sad ending, at least for him.

[–] DHNY85 19 years ago

The impression I got was that Dave suggested the trip to Disney because he wanted to make the other two characters squirm. I think this is evidenced in the scene where they are in the van on their way to Disney World, and the three characters are sitting next to one another, and Chet and Elaine are sort of shifting in their seats, looking uncomfortable, and not saying a single word. Perhaps Dave felt that since he did nothing wrong, taking the two of them on a trip and watching them squirm with guilt (which doesn't really happen with Chet, although Elaine does become quite uncomfortable and almost hostile) allows him some sense of superiority and gratification, which maybe for the time being made him feel better. Although I probably dawned on him that the idea wasn't so hot when Chet tried to "butter" his leg.

[–] ginskia 15 years ago

I just rented this and watched this last night. I do agree with the other posters that David took all of them to DW to make them squirm. What I am wondering though is how did Chet end up with a knife. Could it be that he may have thought that either Elaine or David may try to hurt him and that he would need that knife to defend himself. Then I found it odd that David did not charge Chet for stabbing him.

Can't touch this........

[–] taylorje 12 years ago

If Dave had gotten Chet arrested for stabbing him, the affair with Elaine would probably come out. She would be in big trouble for having sex with a minor.

[–] Rockstardollbaby 11 years ago

The knife was on the room-service tray. They didn't charge him because they knew damn well that what they were doing was wrong -- as they both had really skewed & gross intentions at different points. It's possible that they even have a history of weird behavior that they didn't want anyone looking into.

[–] Rockstardollbaby 11 years ago

Just like everything else these two do, the trip to Disney was a lie. On the surface he claimed it was because of his "promise". He told himself he was doing it because he's a good guy. He said the same to his wife but she knew better (thus, her bizarre bed-beating followed by the smoothing of the covers which was symbolic of the f'd up secrets in their marriage & the way they smoothed over them to pretend they were perfect.) Also, by the pool, she knew her husband was going to manhandle her & why; warning him against it. She should've protected Chet from the same energy because she knows how David is (remember the unsavory "sex" scene in the bathroom when he is instantly "aroused" after learning of her infidelity?) The Disney trip was an act of passive aggression. David was smirking the whole time. The second he got Chet alone, at Disney, he began to act as inappropriate and as predatory as his wife. Chet could see this and wanted to get away from him. He was uncomfortable with David in their state of undress (just swimsuits) and complained of being cold. Ultimately, he was scared enough to stab David. The sad thing is that even though Chet's gut told him that something was unsavory the Disney trip, he still went for it because he was desperate for affection / family / forgiveness. He was a vulnerable kid who fell into the hands of manipulative people. An all too familiar and realistic story.