chanceyluv2 Review of Lymelife

Lymelife (2008)

The bizarre mind of Martini..."feels like the inside of a jelly donut"

[10/10 · 24 May 2009]

I'm still laughing at that line. In this film our anxiety ridden, introverted lead character played by Rory Culkin chooses to lie to his friends about his life long crush played by Emma Roberts. He tells them that he "fingered" her and it was "wet, like the inside of a jelly donut". It is precisely these moments in the movie Lymelife that add up to something fully engaging and startlingly funny. Something much larger than a simple story of suburban angst, families falling apart and children coming of age during the late 70's. I've read all of the Ice Storm comparisons, but I found it to be so much more interesting and realistic. And quite frankly, not only better, but very different. Ang Lee's famous film dealt with much different subject matter. The only similarity is infidelity. So what? In Lymelife it is so much more true to life. Men cheat on their wives because they're not getting what they need from them. So they are vulnerable and seek out someone else. Same goes for women. In Ice Storm it's a bunch of bored wealthy people trying to spice up their sex life. And it, of course, ends tragically. Lymelife hits you in the gut, where it hurts most, and it cleverly avoids a tragic ending and somehow makes you feel hopeful, even though there is an impending doom hanging in the air. From Culkin working himself up in his mirror, playing Han Solo, his idol, to Alec Baldwin's breakdown as a father who has helped screw up his whole family because he is blinded by keeping up with the Jonses, this film hits all the right notes, and does so with a confidence and gusto worthy of serious consideration for the Oscars. Films like this come along every so often, sometimes they're snubbed and sometimes they get their due. I really hope this one gets its due. The crowd I saw it with laughed, cried, shrieked with tension and ultimately left the theater feverishly discussing the ending of the film. Most seemed to draw their own conclusions, which seems to be the point, but I saw it as a very sophisticated reminder of what these characters have been through, how they've changed, and where they stand at the end of the story. I didn't need any more. It's a very well told tale and will definitely land on many critic's top ten lists. One more thing...there's a virginal love scene that is so carefully constructed it forces you to think about your own first time. It's hilarious, painfully awkward and most importantly it is very real.