Fantastic!

An Exercise In Nonsense

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Stanley Phillips (John Cusack) is a mild-mannered store manager. His wife Grace is away at war in Iraq. They met in basic training and married before he got thrown out for his eyes. He's informed of her death but he can't bring himself to tell their daughters Heidi and Dawn. He decides to take them out of school on a surprise trip to amusement park Enchanted Gardens. They visit his anti-war slacker brother John Phillips (Alessandro Nivola). The older daughter Heidi starts to suspect something is wrong.Cusack is playing against type as a father. He is literally hunched over after the news. It's an interesting performance and the two girls are great. The older girl is especially good. This road trip movie is a bit too simplistic. There isn't enough going on. It needs a few more outside characters for the three leads to interact with like that smoking boy. It is nevertheless very compelling and the inevitable talk is powerful.

I am a huge John Cusack fan, so, good or bad, if he's in it, I'll watch it. This is a particularly moving and sad movie. I would have to say that I have never been more moved to sadness by a movie in my entire life. It could have been the timing. My wife and kids had been away for several days and I was missing them terribly. Hey, I'll pick up a Cusack movie to take my mind off of them. Oh boy, was this not the choice. I open-mouthed wept repeatedly during this film and I just don't do that. I was an emotional wreck after seeing this film. Some of it was circumstances, but it was also because it was done so well. John Cusack played this character masterfully. I've wondered if it would affect me the same way, if I watched it again, but I'm not sure I want to have to handle it, if it did. This may sound negative, but quite the contrary, a film that makes you feel so deeply for the characters is indeed a masterpiece. Well done.

This movie is a portrayal of a story that many have to go through, (explaining to children that their mother/father is gone), and bringing in into the present context of the Iraq war. The lead character, Stanley, played by John Cusack, is an ex-Army member who loved the opportunity to serve his country but was finally discharged because of poor eyesight, dealing with the fact that his wife who is still in the US Army has been sent to Iraq. While serving in Iraq his wife is killed in the line of duty. Stanley is angry because he was discharged and felt that it was his duty and HONOR to serve his country in Iraq but his wife is doing so instead. Now the unthinkable has happened. His wife has been killed in the line of duty. Now Stanley has to deal with the humiliation of his wife serving instead of him, losing his wife and having to tell his two daughters that their mother is not coming home. this is where the story departs from the specific circumstances of this plot line. Now it is just a father trying to figure out how to tell his two daughters their mother is dead. John Cusack does an outstanding job in portraying this character. As an Air Force retiree, husband of an Air Force member and a father of three children I fully understand that it would be easier to go to war and DIE than to tell my children that their mother is not coming home. I completely empathized with John's character and understood his complete denial in dealing with the task. This is an excellent portrayal and my accolades to the three main characters who played the parts of father and daughters. I especially appreciated that the producers and director had the good sense not to interject politics, either left or right into this movie and just let the story stand on its own. This film is a must see and I highly recommend it to all.

The local English newspaper in Amsterdam, gave a short brief and good review of this movie. On IMDb, it was a mixed bag of reviews – some of them really critical about the movie. My initial euphoria to go and see the movie faded fast, but still I went to see the movie – because I had promised to accompany my colleague – Claudia.The movie is about Stanley Phillips (John Cusack) and his two daughters Heidi (Shelan Okeefe) and Dawn (Gracie Bednarczyk). Philips wife Grace is in military and serving in Iraq. One day the news comes in of her death. Philip is shocked, but he does not have courage to tell the news to his daughter. In turn, he decides to take them to take his daughters on a road trip to a Children Theme Park. Along the road he agrees to be cheerful and happy and give his daughters whatever they wish for. At the very end, when he tells them – it gets very emotional.It is typical small budget, cute and simple story. John Cusack who is also the producer of the movie – acts his role of Stanley with perfection to the core. Each and every twitch of his eye and expression are measurable with the pain and agony that is there in his heart. He enacts this role brilliantly. Hats off to him. The two daughters – though not much historics to display – are good as supporting cast.There are many emotional and sad moments in the film, and I would advice to carry your tissues and handkerchiefs along with you – if you are those senti types like me.This is the first movie of Director James C. Strouse, and he has done an above average job in direction. I would not say brilliant. If it was not with the great acting of John Cusack, this movie would have fallen flat as any other ordinary movie.Surprisingly Clint Eastwood has given musical score for this movie. One more feather on his cap. Wow – it was not strikingly noticeable, but was good.I understand the few critical comments on some reviewers after seeing the film – like US military not allowing men with eye problems, and the cinematography. Both critical comments though correct – they are too minor to take away the goodness and touchiness of the film. Yes the camera work was a big let down for me too. The cinematography was out of place and majorly looked like I am seeing a 1970s movie – the type of film (or negative used).But overall, a very pleasant and heart warming experience to see this movie.(Stars 6.5 out of 10)