I really wanted to like this movie more than I did because I'm found of Anderson, Sewell and Garber's acting and I love the sci-fi genre.
First, I didn't think it was sciency enough. Sure, we finally get to hear some interesting dialogue in the 3rd act, but it just needed to be pushed further. I was always wanting more.
Secondly, and most importantly, I felt Osment was miscast in this role. This is my first time seeing him act since the Sixth Sense and that one sci-fi film with Jude Law. He was so recognizable to me in this film partly because even with the beard, he still has child-like features. His big round eyes, separated eyebrows and tiny mouth. I wasn't convinced that he could be the leading man. In fact, his stature also seemed dwarfed by other actors, especially his onscreen girlfriend. It also felt as though he was overacting in some scenes. I liked him better as a child actor. Also, the writers made his character halfway unlikable. Seriously, who treats their suffering mom this way? At times he seemed understanding while other times he was kind of harsh/impatient/dismissive towards her grieving. It's like he couldn't understand the depth of her love and loss for his dad, whilst he had this same level of devotion and love towards his girlfriend. Selfish much?
Thirdly, Bruhier who plays the girlfriend was passable in her acting, but holy crap the writers made her unbearable to watch! Her charterer was the most selfish, bratty, entitled person in the entire movie. I actually was happy not seeing her again. They truly made her unlikable and therefore, I was NOT drawn into this entire love/baby in the oven story. Also, Osment's interaction with Bruhier were some of the most unbelievable chemistry I've seen in a while. Plus, his overacting almost always seemed to be involving scenes with the girlfriend. Too melodramatic!
Fourthly, Sewell's character as the dad almost seemed unlikable for a split second. The opening act depicts this very handsome, devoted husband and father barely being able to leave his wife and son at the airport. Then the next time we see him, his selfness almost irked me. The fact that his son had to commit suicide for him to abandon his plan and go back home, was hard to watch. It's almost like the dad didn't give a damn that his wife committed suicide, that his son's adult life was in ruins, etc. While I'm glad the character did go back, the ending didn't have the impact that the writers think it had because of the extremities it took to get him to change his mind.
Lastly, this movie definitely needs a suicide trigger warning. So that people can decide IF they want to watch it and/or prepare themselves for it. It was the most disturbing thing since I wasn't aware that it's not only 1 suicide but 2 AND a miscarriage. Here I was gearing up for the excitement of a sci-fi, and it's really about family drama - VERY TRIGGERING DEPRESSING DRAMA at that.
Everything else about the film was ok. I do like the ideas around the way they executed the time travel. Also, I only felt a connection with the mother and grandpa. Everyone else, I could have cared less what happened to them.
First, I didn't think it was sciency enough. Sure, we finally get to hear some interesting dialogue in the 3rd act, but it just needed to be pushed further. I was always wanting more.
Secondly, and most importantly, I felt Osment was miscast in this role. This is my first time seeing him act since the Sixth Sense and that one sci-fi film with Jude Law. He was so recognizable to me in this film partly because even with the beard, he still has child-like features. His big round eyes, separated eyebrows and tiny mouth. I wasn't convinced that he could be the leading man. In fact, his stature also seemed dwarfed by other actors, especially his onscreen girlfriend. It also felt as though he was overacting in some scenes. I liked him better as a child actor. Also, the writers made his character halfway unlikable. Seriously, who treats their suffering mom this way? At times he seemed understanding while other times he was kind of harsh/impatient/dismissive towards her grieving. It's like he couldn't understand the depth of her love and loss for his dad, whilst he had this same level of devotion and love towards his girlfriend. Selfish much?
Thirdly, Bruhier who plays the girlfriend was passable in her acting, but holy crap the writers made her unbearable to watch! Her charterer was the most selfish, bratty, entitled person in the entire movie. I actually was happy not seeing her again. They truly made her unlikable and therefore, I was NOT drawn into this entire love/baby in the oven story. Also, Osment's interaction with Bruhier were some of the most unbelievable chemistry I've seen in a while. Plus, his overacting almost always seemed to be involving scenes with the girlfriend. Too melodramatic!
Fourthly, Sewell's character as the dad almost seemed unlikable for a split second. The opening act depicts this very handsome, devoted husband and father barely being able to leave his wife and son at the airport. Then the next time we see him, his selfness almost irked me. The fact that his son had to commit suicide for him to abandon his plan and go back home, was hard to watch. It's almost like the dad didn't give a damn that his wife committed suicide, that his son's adult life was in ruins, etc. While I'm glad the character did go back, the ending didn't have the impact that the writers think it had because of the extremities it took to get him to change his mind.
Lastly, this movie definitely needs a suicide trigger warning. So that people can decide IF they want to watch it and/or prepare themselves for it. It was the most disturbing thing since I wasn't aware that it's not only 1 suicide but 2 AND a miscarriage. Here I was gearing up for the excitement of a sci-fi, and it's really about family drama - VERY TRIGGERING DEPRESSING DRAMA at that.
Everything else about the film was ok. I do like the ideas around the way they executed the time travel. Also, I only felt a connection with the mother and grandpa. Everyone else, I could have cared less what happened to them.