Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

What a beautiful and tender film. As a psychologist, I have recommended it to many of my patients. Of course, Morgan Freeman rarely appears in any film that isn't spectacular. Virginia Madsen is a wonderful actress, but I don't recall seeing her in anything since Dune, So it was fantastic seeing her back in action. This film deals with issues like substance abuse and depression in a way that is uplifting to all of us.

I believed every word said - out loud or otherwise - in this movie. For me, films like this come around about once or twice in a decade. I am already a bit anxious of how many times I will watch this during the rest of my life-time. I think the great personal experience was both the film being so well made and where I am at this precise moment in time. Great art touches an individual deeply and I shall not try to put this fine piece of great art into words. I would be a bit amazed of a person who does not get anything out of this one. Recommended for every living Soul. I would not recommend checking out the trailers (although I admit I have not watched them myself) but give this piece of captured time a chance and under 2 hours of your (and preferably with someone you love) life - you will spot the feeling of this one right on.Amazing. Amen.

I'm not sure why people hate this movie. Perhaps it's the romance element between a 30 / 40 something woman and a 70 something man. But why does this matter? When it comes to love, age is just a number. I thought the movie was well acted (Morgan Freeman, as always, did not disappoint) and the story was great. I think what many people miss is the element of a struggling author. And the people that miss it are those who are not authors. As a writer myself, I know what it's like to lose the ability to write a particular story or even character when something associated with it happens. In this movie Monte lost his love of writing when his wife died. If you're not a writer, you will never understand how something as terrible as grief can screw you over. It can either ruin you forever, or for a very long time. Monte was fortunate to find a family who gave him inspiration. A brilliant movie I will most likely watch again. The scenery was beautiful, the kids were great and blossomed throughout the story and everything about it was near perfect. I knocked off a couple of points for some cliché moments, which is pretty much in every romantic movie. Otherwise it was exactly what I needed and highly recommend it.

We just finished watching Belle Isle for the third time and it's just as enjoyable as it was the first two.If you're looking for the standard childish comedy, sappy romance or predictable drama that usually comes out of Hollywood these days, stay away. On the other hand, if you're looking for a great family movie with a romantic wink, you'll enjoy this movie as much as us.The character evolution in the course of 90 minutes or so is something Reiner and Williams should be proud of, and the leads are very well played by Freeman and Madsen.If you want an excellent "feel good" sensation throughout, you'll find it with Belle Isle.