Home Again
30/09/17 Filed in: Cinema
We had a choice of three films at the cinema yesterday: Flatliners, Goodbye Christopher Robin and Home again. I really didn't fancy Flatliners and was put off Christopher Robin by the Guardian review. So we went for Home Again.
Reese Witherspoon stars in what is an archetypical American RomCom. She plays a single mum, Alice Kinney, with two children, who has moved back to her late father's house in LA, leaving an estranged husband in New York where he is 'always busy' with his music business. As single mums go she isn't doing too badly. The house is drop-dead gorgeous and her chosen profession is to be an interior designer. Hardly up against it, although the eldest daughter, Isabel, is suffering a bit of a confidence crisis.
We are also introduced to a male trio, Harry, Teddy and George, who are ambitious fledgling film makers looking for an intro to the industry, and financial backing to launch their first movie. Worlds collide, literally, when Harry bumps into Alice, who's on a girls night out to celebrate her birthday. Despite the age difference, 40 v 27, Harry is immediately taken with Alice, and the boys and girls get together for the rest of the evening, all ending up back at Alice's. Harry and Alice's relationship is well on the way to being consummated when Harry's alcoholic excesses catch up with him, requiring a rush to the bathroom. That sort of put a damper on things.
Next morning Harry is full of apologies but Alice is quick to point out that the previous evening was a birthday peccadillo, and things were now back to normal, thank you very much. Harry is crestfallen, but isn't about to give in. Meanwhile George has come across Alice's Father's study, and discovers that he was a famous film maker. George being the screenwriter of the trio is smitten. And then Alice's mother arrives, who turns out to be none other than a famous film star from the past. The boys can't believe their luck. Alice goes off for a job interview (which turns out to be a bit weird) and when she returns mum has offered the garden house to the boys, they having been thrown out of their previous accommodation because of non payment of rent.
So the scene is thus set. Harry continues to court Alice, eventually with some success, George becomes Isabel's inspiration, taking her out of her depression. Everything is going very nicely, thank you, when Austen turns up, Alice's estranged husband. He is not pleased to have learnt that three young men are sharing the house with her. Harry immediately takes a dislike to him, and the feeling appears to be mutual. In fact none of the boys like him, all three being somewhat enthralled by Alice.
Things at this point go a bit awry, but this is a feel-good movie, so we expect everything to work out in the end.
Reviews have been mixed, ranging from 'silly but watchable', to 'a story that moves with the predictable monotony of a Swiss clock'. But Reese Witherspoon is as adorable as ever.
If you like RomComs I doubt you will be disappointed.
So the scene is thus set. Harry continues to court Alice, eventually with some success, George becomes Isabel's inspiration, taking her out of her depression. Everything is going very nicely, thank you, when Austen turns up, Alice's estranged husband. He is not pleased to have learnt that three young men are sharing the house with her. Harry immediately takes a dislike to him, and the feeling appears to be mutual. In fact none of the boys like him, all three being somewhat enthralled by Alice.
Things at this point go a bit awry, but this is a feel-good movie, so we expect everything to work out in the end.
Reviews have been mixed, ranging from 'silly but watchable', to 'a story that moves with the predictable monotony of a Swiss clock'. But Reese Witherspoon is as adorable as ever.
If you like RomComs I doubt you will be disappointed.