Director: Hallie Meyers-Shyer.
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Pico Alexander, Jon Rudnitsky, Nat Wolff, Michael Sheen, Candice Bergen, Lola Flanery, Eden Grace Redfield.
So, not only is it's Hallie Meyers-Shyer's directorial debut, but she also wrote this story, and why her surname is partly recognisable is because she's the daughter of writer/director Nancy Meyers who capitalised on the parental, family, sometimes romantic dramedies. I'm actually a fan of Nancy work, especially What Women Want and Something's Gotta Give, and I haven't really disliked anything else she's directed, but, this isn't about her, it's her daughter, who follows in her mother's footsteps by sticking within a very similar arena of complicated, yet honest relationships.
We meet Alice (Witherspoon) a recently separated, single mother of two adorable girls who returns to her family home in Los Angeles, leaving her husband (Sheen) in New York. She's at the dawn of being 40 and in celebration, she ends up with some unlikely but likeable house guests. Three young men trying to secure funding for their own film. I can't say this is totally unbelievable, knowing of stories similar to this, however, what might unnerve some people, particularly parents, is the idea of having three strange men staying in the house with children. So, what is actually stretched out here is trust.
There's obviously romance in the air between the alpha male of the trio, Harry (Alexander) and Alice, who's very much the smooth, manipulative talker with his dulcet tones. It's a voice I can't currently place, but his voice reminds me of someone else, I just can't think of who right now. The trio reminded me very much of The Entourage, just on a much smaller scale.
It's an interesting choice of casting besides Witherspoon who seems to fit the role perfectly. But she's only really up against Sheen and Bergen with the rest of cast only just branching out. Though this isn't a bad reflection on each of their performances. Wolff actually becomes a likeable character as oppose to this year's live action Death Note and I actually thought Rudnitsky was Entourage's Kevin Connolly, but no, it's pretty much his first major role and he does brilliantly. The girls are probably my favourite characters in the film and feel they should have had larger parts in the story, there was a danger of forgetting about them all together during the middle of the film and part of me think Witherspoon and possibly Bergen as well, did this film as a favour to the Meyer's to get her work noticed.
But is it funny? I did forget this was comedy at times while watching this, but it does have a few laugh-out-loud moments. It's sadly not going to be to everyone's sense of humour. And, though the script isn't perfect it does have its little moments of genius. John Debney does a really good score but this really shouldn't be a selling point of the film.
Overall, it's actually quite enjoyable, light-hearted and easy-watching entertainment. But, it's no way near as funny as it could have, should have been. As for being a directorial and writing debut, Meyers-Shyer does really well and has plonk herself on my radar for future projects.
Running Time: 8
The Cast: 7
Performance: 7
Direction: 6
Story: 6
Script: 6
Creativity: 6
Soundtrack: 7
Job Description: 6
The Extra Bonus Point: 0
59% 6/10
