Whoa. I am not gonna say its totally unrealistic but WOW. Rose's fiance was acting like he knew her for years. And Rose kept pretending/lying like she knew where Maggie was for TWO months?? Her Dad didnt catch on after awhile?? And what exactly was Maggie's position at the home?? Who would actually hire her with that kinda job history?? But then again she is an attractive white woman. Nuff said.
shareI'll say it IS totally unrealistic.
I DON'T think it's unrealistic that 2 sisters could have a close relationship in which the older one looks out for the younger and, in time, that helping, nurturing qualities could switch.
BUT, as Maggie is earlier portrayed -- lying, stealing, always impulsive -- acting on "hornieness" and all momentary opportunities WAY beyond any awareness of consequences or sensitivities/loyalties to existing relationships let alone any far-sightedness PLUS SEVERELY dyslexic -- that's WAY, WAY FAR too extreme.
I'm a retired PhD clinical psychologist with 40 years practice -- in a state mental hospital, as chief psychologist for my state's mental health system, plus many years in private practice during much of which I increasingly specialized in getting training in and doing marriage & family work, some of which dealt with cases like Maggie, Rose, and their parents.
The general theme of this film -- that the caring relationship between an older and her younger sister could mature and develop into much more of a mutual concern & giving -- I have no quarrel with.
BUT the lying, cheating, thieving, promiscuous, destroying relationship, etc., portrayal of Maggie in the first part of this film was SO extreme that I don't see her capable of the changes she shows in the latter part of this film. (Nor do I see her overcoming her VERY severe dyslexia based on her reading poetry to the professor in the senior unit.)
Charming plot BUT the characterization of Maggie was severely overly blown AND her change of personality (while such a change IS possible given time and effective treatment) so EXTEMELY unlikely and unrealistic in the plot presented.
Its a good movie but its kinda far fetched. Rose is this caring protective generous sister that just went on with her life and even got engaged in TWO months and made no effort to try and locate her sister?? That just doesnt fit her character at all. Your sister is gone and you dont know where she is but you dont file a police report or tell your father?? It just doesnt fit her character.
shareBut she did try to locate her. She attempted calling her on the phone multiple times but the number was dead. what more could she do? it would not have made sense to get the polica involved considering there were no signs of forced entry before the last time they saw each other. ALSO. Rose blamed herself for Maggie running off, she was ashamed. That would prevent anyone from reaching out for help.
shareYeah, I totally agree... he may have been interested in Rose from before she paid attention to him so maybe he picked up things about her likes and dislikes in advance, but, before the wedding, when Maggie was telling him those more personal things about her sister and he was like "I know everything", it was totally unbelievable.
I've been with the same guy for ten years and I'm sure I don't know ALL there is to know about him.
That was the only part I didn't like.
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What about you? Wanna stay here in crazy town or help me rescue the geek?
In the book, the timeline plays out over a year. The separation between Rose and Maggie is 10 months and the dad knows that Rose doesn't know where Maggie is. If you can, read the book. It's probably my favorite book and I've read it several times. The movie is okay, but as is typical with movies, changes and abbreviated many things that the book plays out and explains so much better.
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