It's not that difficult to make me laugh but the "singing Russel Crowe look-a-like" was the only thing remotely funny. From the very word go, the movie tries to make a funny, but unfortunately it was backed up with substandard acting I could have done in my own backyard and this choked any humor into oblivion.
A lot of the movie did come together in the end, and it seems that many the audiences liked the movie. I must have been surrounded by Aussie yobboes in that theater last night.
The topic of the movie is mental illness, and this issue is a very serious social issue. In other words movie is trying to give a balance between family issues, social issues, and schizophrenia versus providing comedy and entertainment. The directors probably tried to find that balance without looking sadistic and insensitive, but sadly the makers of this movie didn't have it in them to pull it off. It was a sign that the director gave up on finding this balance when the young teenage girl announces that she was schizophrenic and the family laughs in unison... gee how sweet. Yes, this was one of the jokes which failed to draw a laugh out of me.
I like how Toni Collette just gets randomly picked up off the street (literally) in the movie and then bang!, she's the central character. Is this some new movie mechanism or something? IE If you need a new character in a movie you drive around town and just pick one randomly off the street? A secondary theme in the movie was a 'stand up for yourself' and 'don't get bullied' theme. Sadly the chances of picking up someone who dresses like a prostitute off the street corner to give young people lessons about self respect harms this theme somewhat. I don't recommend anyone pick up a random person off the street - period!, just as I don't recommend this disappointment of a movie.
A lot of the movie did come together in the end, and it seems that many the audiences liked the movie. I must have been surrounded by Aussie yobboes in that theater last night.
The topic of the movie is mental illness, and this issue is a very serious social issue. In other words movie is trying to give a balance between family issues, social issues, and schizophrenia versus providing comedy and entertainment. The directors probably tried to find that balance without looking sadistic and insensitive, but sadly the makers of this movie didn't have it in them to pull it off. It was a sign that the director gave up on finding this balance when the young teenage girl announces that she was schizophrenic and the family laughs in unison... gee how sweet. Yes, this was one of the jokes which failed to draw a laugh out of me.
I like how Toni Collette just gets randomly picked up off the street (literally) in the movie and then bang!, she's the central character. Is this some new movie mechanism or something? IE If you need a new character in a movie you drive around town and just pick one randomly off the street? A secondary theme in the movie was a 'stand up for yourself' and 'don't get bullied' theme. Sadly the chances of picking up someone who dresses like a prostitute off the street corner to give young people lessons about self respect harms this theme somewhat. I don't recommend anyone pick up a random person off the street - period!, just as I don't recommend this disappointment of a movie.