Living Out Loud (2009 TV Movie) User Reviews

another Hollywood version of a Breast Cancer survivor

[melmajoros · 2/10 · 18 May 2009]

I am a breast cancer survivor, so I am always interested in seeing hollywoods take on the disease, and I used to work in Hollywood as well.

First of all, the way the doctor in the movie glossed over the fact that there would be psychological issues with breast cancer made me laugh, secondly I have had 16 rounds of chemo, and it was never a feel good coffee klatch time where we all bonded. Most survivors don't talk to their neighbors, the drugs knock you out and you are sleepy and groggy, and if I was to drive home after chemo well I probably would have been pulled over for a serious driving infraction. Her son giving her smores after chemo: Really? are you serious, they have something here called chemo teach, and I think her son should have had a little more tact when mentioning her wig. I had to turn it off at that point, sorry not really based in reality as far as this survivor is concerned By the way, the term suffering from the disease really ticks me off. Call us cancer survivors, warriors, whatever, but not suffering.

Very mediocre. So mediocre that it's quite bad, really.

[hand-eti · 3/10 · 16 September 2011]

The main issue with this movie is that it is totally uninspired. They had to do a movie on the subject of breast cancer, so the movie looks like they made a checklist of issues that must be discussed - Chemo? check. Wigs? check. Oh, and we need a moral lessen. Let's do "go through hard times and end up stronger and wiser". Okay, that's it. Now, write a quick script that neatly fills in all these slots and let's get going. Done! The lady is so obviously a default 40something year old lady in a suburb, her husband the average yuppie, the kids are default teenage daughter and school age kid, there is nothing that makes them even remote human.

And I find it appalling that they manage to make a whole movie about breast cancer without showing a single breast. This movie is not there to break taboos but to enforce them. If they really wanted to create some understanding among the viewers, they should have shown the result of the mastectomy instead of going through all sorts of lengths to hide it (And no, there would have been nothing sexual about that).

Most of the dialogs are like the rest of the movie - mediocre. Nondescript. But the script writers had serious problems giving the children some decent lines. In order to portray their problems in dealing with the situation, they let them say horrible things such as 'my friends won't have to see you bold, will they?' as a first reaction to mom losing her hair. (Why mom didn't tell them she was going to lose her hair is a mystery to me anyway).

But okay, if you like to sob and be sure the end is uplifting, go ahead and watch it. It's only 90 minutes of your life wasted, so it's no big deal.

Living Out Loud-A Song in Her Heart ****

[edwagreen · 10/10 · 8 May 2009]

This is an absolutely outstanding film with Gail O'Grady as a music teacher, who leads the typical American life with her husband and 2 children, until a diagnosis of breast cancer sets all of their lives upside down.

What makes this film so good is that it depicts the effects of the illness not only on the mother, but the ramifications to the family.

It is a time when O'Grady begins to question her values and is told to go for it with a wonderful friend that she meets at a breast cancer group.

It is also a time to reflect on her marriage and some very interesting points as well as sacrifices to be made.

This film should serve as an inspiration to all those suffering from the dreaded disease. This is the type of film that Hollywood most desperately needs.

O'Grady is phenomenal as she takes you all the way from disbelief, the chemotherapy sessions, the losing of hair and ultimate redemption as well as a new quest in life. She is literally supported by a great cast who are totally caught up in the disruption brought about in their lives.

Not only does this film tells us that it's time to smell the roses, we have to get going with our lives and dream that impossible dream.