MovieChat Forums > This Is Where I Leave You (2014) Discussion > Why the mediocre reviews?

Why the mediocre reviews?

posted 9 years ago by pro_musar
26 replies | jump to latest

The script, a very faithful adaptation of Jonathan Tropper's excellent novel, was tight and clever, and I also found the chemistry among the cast extremely engaging and moving at all the right spots...so why the mediocre reviews? At the risk of evoking the tribal chord, did you have to be Jewish to enjoy this film as much as I did or do fans of TIWILY who share my sentiments run across the board? And boy was I happy that Jane Fonda and not Goldie Hawn was casted in this film; her depiction of the family matriarch was truly endearing, and I totally lost it when she, too, called the rabbi Boner.

[–] wheelr 9 years ago

Quite simply, people are just impossible to please these days. Nobody seems to watch movies and let themselves enjoy it any more, everyone HAS to criticize and nitpick movies, it's sad but unfortunately that's the way it is now. People just say 'Well, I have a right to my opinion' and that's very true, it's just a shame that people have to be unnecessarily vicious about things that they personally don't like.

I enjoyed the movie well enough, having read the book, I confess that at first I was a little disappointed (I really loved the book) but upon repeated viewings, I have enjoyed it more and more. I agree with all the points you made, good script, well directed and an excellent cast.

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Just because YOU don't like something doesn't mean it is empirically not good.-Tina Fey

[–] krazyj2472002 9 years ago

I'm surprised by the bad reviews as well. I loved the book so was prepared to be disappointed but thought it was wonderful. I thought Jane Fonda was PERFECT. And, no, in my opinion you do not have to be Jewish to enjoy the film. THEY weren't even Jewish. "Mom, you are sitting shiva where we put the Christmas tree." LOL.

[–] kenny-164 9 years ago

The cast is top shelf, some really great actors in this. But imo they were totally wasted. This film was awful. I got about ten minutes from the end and realized there was no way they could save it with a great ending, so I turned it off.

I usually do not see films this bad because I read reviews and avoid what I am not likely to want to see. I did not do that here, thinking the cast would have to come up with a good movie.

They didn't. 3 out of 10.

[–] goldpink23 9 years ago

@Kenny-164. Although I didn't like this movie.I still watched it to the end.Even though I agree with you about this movie.You should still watch movies until the end because you never know if something can save it.The movie Orphan with Vera Famiga is a good example.Although that movie wasn't bad but the ending made it better.

[–] bellamae 9 years ago

There weren't any car chases, explosions or automatic rifles. There were just grown-ups (plus the one pooping munchkin) and intelligent dialogue. These don't seem to be too popular in cinema these days.

[–] et3andrewbrown 9 years ago

I loved the book, and didn't dislike the movie, but I can understand someone not liking it if they hadn't read the book. There was very little back story in the movie for any of the characters. Hell, they only mentioned Jud and Quinn's first pregnancy failing in passing, when that was a HUGE part of the book. You just can't build 10 characters in 120 minutes the way you can in several hundred pages. This might have worked better as a mini-series or something.

[–] Geeky Randy 9 years ago

I did not read the book, so maybe I'm not best suited to answer; however, pretty much everyone is either cheating or being cheated on, and everyone's messed up love life is the conflict that drive them to grow. I could handle that if that's how one or two characters' story unfolded; but when it's everyone, if feels creatively lazy.

Book: http://geeksteronmovies.blogspot.com/p/the-geekster-guide.html
Votes: 3,382

[–] goldpink23 9 years ago

@Geeky Randy. The movie Closer with Natalie Portman,Jude Law,Julia Roberts & Clive Owen had the entire cast cheating.However every person does a really good job, especially Natalie Portman & Clive Owen, when it comes to the acting.You might like it.

[–] Catt624 9 years ago

I'm an atheist with no Jewish family members, & I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. But since there were so many storylines and characters, you had to really pay attention to pretty much every word that was said or you could miss a key component to the back stories of a lot of the characters. And that could be part of the reason people disliked it. Unless you want a 4 hour movie, when there are so many storylines and characters, often times the only way you can give a bit of important back story is through an otherwise simple sentence, flippant comment, or a quip.

I just chastised someone on another thread who made complaints that were solely due to just not paying attention. And they treated it like it was a flaw in the movie rather than a flaw in their attention span and/or understanding. That could be the case with some people, who knows. It seems more and more people like things that are less story-based and more fast-paced and about shooting people or blowing things up.

[–] mdonln 9 years ago

Why the mediocre reviews? Well, because the movie sucks! That would be my guess. Like me, a lot of viewers were probably lured in by the misleading previews.

I'm not Jewish myself but I was offended. I felt, 'sitting Shiva' is used as the basis for keeping the group together even though it was established the family is not Jewish.

The movie started off shaky and doubtful then kept getting worse from there; straight through to the end. I did not like the way the filmmakers took potshots at the Jewish faith. I did not like the characters; even the kid. I could not relate to any of them; and did not want to. I found it hard to believe any of them would stay and endure the process. I found them all to be flat, shallow, selfish, inconsistent, and annoying. I didn't care, one way or another, what happened to them.

This is an absolutely, incredibly horrible movie but somehow I stuck it out; and for my effort what was my reward? A crap, trash ending. So now the mother is a lesbian, great. And, what's that? The dad knew all about it and so happy his 'beloved' wife wouldn't be alone after his death. How idiotic! Clearly these filmmakers think they're so clever but they're not; far from it. The attempts at humor were childish and disappointing on many levels.

The only thing this movie is good for is to show what happens when the concept of 'anything goes' permeates a family and society. In the end, people aren't happier and well-adjusted; they're broken, miserable, and aimless.

[–] MuchToBeGratefulFor 9 years ago

I did not like the characters; even the kid. I could not relate to any of them; and did not want to. I found it hard to believe any of them would stay and endure the process. I found them all to be flat, shallow, selfish, inconsistent, and annoying. I didn't care, one way or another, what happened to them.

That pretty much sums it up for me. Unlikeable characters, fine. But unlikeable AND uninteresting is an unworkable combination. Throw in annoying. I just wanted them all to shut up. Which happened when I turned off the TV.

You must be the change you seek in the world. -- Gandhi

[–] spookyrat1 9 years ago

I felt, 'sitting Shiva' is used as the basis for keeping the group together ...

You didn't exactly have to have a near-genius IQ to work that out.

... even though it was established the family is not Jewish.

You weren't paying attention. The family is Jewish, but didn't practise together on a regular basis. The family members were all familiar with the rituals and the brothers even spoke about attending temple when they were younger. Little wonder then with your short attention span that you

... could not relate to any of ...

the characters, who all, the movie establishes, have flaws, like all people, but who clearly aren't

... broken, miserable, and aimless.

And finally ...

I'm not Jewish myself but I was offended.

I did not like the way the filmmakers took potshots at the Jewish faith.

Jews account for less than 2.5% of the USA's population, but approximately 70% of the USA's working American comedians are Jewish. Somehow I don't think comedians such as Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Billy Crystal, Jon Stewart, Sarah Silverman, Jerry Seinfield etc. etc. would share your "pious" concerns.🐭

[–] Dani321 9 years ago

I'm not Jewish myself but I was offended. I felt, 'sitting Shiva' is used as the basis for keeping the group together even though it was established the family is not Jewish.

Of course! That was the premise of the film.
"Sitting Shiva was your idea, Mom?"
"Yes. I needed you and you needed each other. You wouldn't have stayed otherwise."

I did not like the way the filmmakers took potshots at the Jewish faith.

Parts of my family are Catholics and we take potshots at Catholicism all the time in the same vein as the characters in this movie. There was nothing untoward in their humor about it.

I found it hard to believe any of them would stay and endure the process. I found them all to be flat, shallow, selfish, inconsistent, and annoying.

Like most human beings are? But then maybe they weren't so much of what you describe because real people would stay and endure the process because they are not selfish, shallow and inconsistent and acknowledge the responsibilities of family. Yes?

The dad knew all about it and so happy his 'beloved' wife wouldn't be alone after his death.

I don't find that so far fetched. They were obviously a progressive couple. Many people don't believe their spouse has to mourn them for the rest of their lives and be alone.

The only thing this movie is good for is to show what happens when the concept of 'anything goes' permeates a family and society. In the end, people aren't happier and well-adjusted; they're broken, miserable, and aimless.

And there ya have it. Real people and their lives are not perfect.

[–] rob12317 7 years ago

one of the ever growing, everything's offensive viewpoint. for starters...who cares if you feel "offended", like that somehow validates and gives your review righteous, political correctness. the movie was amusing to those of us that get humour and don't have stick up our bum, it's fine if you didn't like it...but don't pull that tired old bitchy whine about how "offended" you are...it's irrelevant.

[–] mdonln 7 years ago

rob12317 says > one of the ever growing, everything's offensive viewpoint. for starters...who cares if you feel "offended", like that somehow validates and gives your review righteous, political correctness.

Did you forget to read the header? The OP asked why the movie had gotten such poor reviews. I responded; providing my opinions as to why I thought the movie was not very good.

If you like the movie, great; perhaps you should have talked about why you liked it or, in other words, express your own views instead of attacking mine. You say I'm politically correct but you have no idea what you're talking about. A PC person does not give their own views they just agree or disagree with others based on the prevailing winds.

I know, based on your choice of words and the spelling of some, that you may not live in America or are not originally from here. That's fine; I'm a transplant myself but let's remember we have free speech here so I can give my opinion; whatever it may be. You can give yours as well. I'm fine with that, but we're here to discuss a movie not me. Learn to disagree without making it personal.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]

[–] Scarlett_Butler 9 years ago

The reviews were mediocre because this is a mediocre film. It has nothing truly fresh or challenging to say. "Dysfunctional family get-together" is a stale topic for a film. Most of the characters were lazy two-dimensional cutouts (screw-up little brother, uptight older brother, angry businessman, flamboyant mother, ditzy townie girlfriend, etc. etc.) Countless films like this have been done before, and this one didn't break the mould in any kind of original way.

It's not a terrible film. It's not a great film. It's just...mediocre.