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The Story of Us (1999)
Thought provoking - read between the lines!
OK.... I get the negative reviews if you're trying to process this movie straight on... If your expectation is cheesy romcom or a serious reflection of what marriage truly looks like then perhaps you might have some harsh comments to make. In my opinion, this movie does an excellent job of balancing between the two... Which to some may make it feel disjointed and not as smooth but I think it adds to the charm.
I think one needs to consider how this movie could have been made. Yes it could have taken to the heights of what may be considered serious issues that arise through the course of 15-20 years of marriage ... But is that going to be entertaining and a pleasant way to spend your evening? Instead you see that the highlighted issues between Katie and Ben may seem initially trivial, comical, unrealistic (insert your own descriptor here), but does the heart of that issue not reflect some truth in what partners battle when being married for eons? I found it cleverly hidden to allow for people to identify and interpret as something that they could relate to... Not lets take the whole argument literally as that's exactly what happens to everyone, or on the other end of the spectrum... This mirrors your real life so much why the hell would you want to pay the price of a movie ticket to watch it on a big screen...
Yes there is arguing... A lot of it... And certainly you probably need to have a certain sense of humour to get Willis and Reiner and their tops of the legs humour (which I personally found hilarious... Then again my humour is quite broad). Michelle's touching speech at the end is a bit hammy.... Again... I think it was meant to be. Touching, thought provoking, poignant, with some air and humour and lightness.
In a nutshell, it's all about the expectations you have. If you open yourself up to it, it's a very enjoyable movie. You get to see a side of Bruce that isn't common, Michelle is gorgeous to watch throughout, she is delightful and resonates all that is pfeifferesque - essentially why pfans will watch whatever she decides she wants to star in.
People Like Us (2012)
Touching and thoughtful - worth the time
I was pleasantly surprised when I finally committed to sitting down and watching this movie. I'm a huge fan of Michelle so naturally I knew I would get around to it, though the premise made me uneasy.
The story essentially revolves around Sam (Chris pine) who learns his father has died and left him a shaving case filled with money to give to his half sister, Frankie (elizabeth banks) that he never knew existed. During this journey we learn all about what in his eyes was a very unhappy childhood, the estrangement with his parents (Michelle Pfeiffer is his mother), some obvious relationship issues he has with his current girlfriend (Olivia Wilde), and the difficult issues Frankie and her son have.
I felt the acting was top notch for the most part. Loved Michelle as I always do. The only issue I had with the film were some of the unanswered questions and certain aspects that seemed less believable. Where was Frankie's mom in all this? Why would Jerry (Sam's dad) be so detached with him yet make the effort to reunite the kids on Sundays? Why would that detachment between Sam and his father mean distance between Sam and his mother? What the hell ended up happening with everyone trying to arrest Sam at the end? There is this shift where you get some insight that Sam may not be all that great of a guy... The argument he has with his girlfriend, troubles at work, yet it was never really addressed... Just he made up with everyone and yeah, happy ever after getting to know his sister. They delved a bit into Lillian's heart condition yet didn't fully explore why she wasn't seeking treatment and why she finally agreed to it, that convo even after she was back home never happened.
Despite all that, the movie was enjoyable and thought provoking - which are movies that are rarely made these days. So if you can forgive the questions that arise once it's finished and enjoy it for what it is, it's worth it.