I very much enjoyed this movie.
I like Geena Davis's character because she really seems to care about the man and want to help him. I guess, Don't we all? But so much of the time we're just waiting for someone to notice us and want us and want to help us, we don't look for a way we could actually help someone else. I mean, sure, she's probably lonely and wants a man, and she wants a dad for her son, but still I think her first thought is that she could help this man - first with his dog, then with his life. And she's so persistent. Makes me think about how marriage is a choice, but like most choices, there are things we have to do to make them, and to achieve the wanted result.
I don't desire to live like G.D.'s character, jumping in on a man so quickly after his separation and stopping at nothing to get her way. But I do think I could learn a thing or two from her, mostly that she plays the head writer in her life, and in contrast the dude totally doesn't learn how to do that till the end.
Also, the scene where the kid (Alexander?) is getting picked on by the other kids and the guy sees him and wants to help him. That was my first cry. I don't know what it is about kids getting picked on that just makes me so sad and so angry at the same time. I seriously hate it.. in real life, in the movies (when they're done real), in theory, whatever. There are so many kids in this world that need love and encouragement, I almost feel like I should spend my life helping them, rather than bringing new ones in.
I love the opening scene (was it the opening scene?) where the large man is sitting next to the guy and he's like, "I'm sorry I'm fat, I'm So-and-So, who are you?" or whatever. Hilarious.
Rose and Julian were weird but funny. Everything was so quirky and interesting, and the acting was phenomenal. Seriously, how can you show that kind of depth of grief without really "showing" or "acting" it, you know? It's amazing. Like are they really feeling that pain, or are they thinking of some similar pain from their real life, or do they just know how to make a certain kind of face, and people believe it? This is what I want to know (and learn how to do.)
**movie from Roger Ebert's four-star reviews, PG set
