August 28, 2010
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Life During Wartime (2009)
Director: Todd Solondz
Writer: Todd Solondz
Cast: Shirley Henderson, Allison Janney, Paul Reubens
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Synopsis: A sequel to Todd Solondz's Happiness, which finds this grossly dysfunctional family picking up the pieces of their shattered lives.
Thoughts: I had high hopes for Solondz's latest cinematic effort, though I believe these lofty expectations have ultimately worked against it. Try as he might, the talented filmmaker can't seem to recapture the demented magic that made Happiness so memorable. Sure, the awkward dialogue, uncomfortable situations, and bizarre sexual hang-ups are all present and accounted for, but it just feels as if Solondz is going through the motions. Had he devoted more time to his characters and their plight, the film may have been a bit stronger. Something's missing, and I'm not quite sure what it is.
Recipe For Mediocrity: Recasting the Family Was a Mistake + Not Enough Paul Reubens + Weirdness Will Only Take You So Far
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