Has anyone seen "Life As A House"?

[lisas3575]

I saw this last night and there's several things bugging me. Overall I mostly liked it though-- it was a tear-jerker.

I got really tired of Sam's character, the son, played by Hayden Christensen of more recent Star Wars fame. He spent the whole movie either yelling or crying. I thought the crying was pretty implausible considering he was an addict, 16 years old, and very rebellious. I thought it was interesting that he again is playing a character with so much angst, like Anakin Skywalker. Does the kid have any range or does he only scowl and yell? I'll admit he's easy on the eyes.... :p

It also bothered me the loose morality that most of the characters had. The son showering with the neighbor girl/friend, casually, like everyone does this at 16. And her mom, sleeping with her boyfriend, while she's showering nekkid with Sam... what the hell. And the whole male prostitute thing thrown in as a convenient "comic" excuse to make the bad neighbor go away at the end made my eyes roll outta my head.

Anyone want to chime in here?

[aec1978]

I really enjoyed Life as a House. I thought the characters were deep and interesting...that they were believable not in spite of their screwed up actions but because of them.

I didn't know what to expect when I rented this movie (I hadn't even read the summary on the video jacket), and I was very impressed. Kevin Kline is great and the whole cast seems to fit together well. In a small way this movie reminded me of American Beauty, but the characters and storyline are less, I don't know...tragic.

That's how I felt about it. Anyone else?

[lisas3575]

I love Kevin Kline too. The only movie of his that I couldn't get through was A Fish Called Wanda. I thought he was excellent in this, playing someone with such vitality at the end of his life.

I also enjoy Mary Steenbergen <sp?> and thought she was somewhat wasted in this film, I would have liked her character to have been more developed.

[mochadelsol]

It also bothered me the loose morality that most of the characters had. The son showering with the neighbor girl/friend, casually, like everyone does this at 16. And her mom, sleeping with her boyfriend, while she's showering nekkid with Sam... what the hell. And the whole male prostitute thing thrown in as a convenient "comic" excuse to make the bad neighbor go away at the end made my eyes roll outta my head.

I agree with you, and yet I enjoyed the movie. I thought Kevin Kline was wonderful.

IMO I Loved A Fish Called Wanda. (talk to me in Italian :D )

[mochadelsol]

Sorry Lisa for not correctly copying & paste of your quote. I was surprized that I even managed what I did. Just wanted to agree with you on your point.

[Missi]

I REALLY wanted to like this movie. The premise of the movie sounds good, a father bonding with his son building a house that has always been his dream. But it was so incredibly unrealistic and such a "easy way out" ending, that I found it terribly disappointing. Kkevin Kline or not, this one wasn't even worth the time to watch it.