If a movie lacks a certain buzz or thrill, Sam Rockwell can be relied upon to sugar-coat the mess. Better Living Through Chemistry feels bogged down, even when on the surface the plot's intact. Rockwell saves the day, turning a boring character and his day-to-day routine into a life of revelry. His wife's (Michelle Monaghan) portrayed as a spiteful person, their relationship's hitting rock bottom. She's purposely cold and nasty, making the pharmaceutical nice-man the one to relate to, subconsciously pushing our opinions of them down a narrow path. Rockwell's life is spun 180 degrees when he meets Olivia Wilde's wealthy drug addict. They commit adultery on their respective partners, take advantage of Rockwell's medicinal knowledge and inventory, and plot murder. Out of character motives. But it is Sam Rockwell, doing what he does best: engage and amuse. Olivia Wilde's character is flat. Her forte lies in other M.O's. Ray Liotta is Wilde's unsuspecting husband, whose screen time barely reaches five minutes. Jane Fonda's voice-over, accompanying Rockwell's story, is pointless, other than to tell us she was/is one of his customers. If it weren't for Rockwell's class acting, Better Living Through Chemistry would be one to avoid.
Review of Better Living Through Chemistry
