A collection of connecting stories entwine for tales of love, loss, alienation and regret.
Jason Reitman knows how to shine a telling light onto middle American life and this movie further extends that skill. The film was lauded before release but was unfairly treated during its theatrical run. Now it debuts on download-to-own before its DVD release later in the year and hopefully this platform will give the film a fairer audience-reach because it’s an engaging drama that raises some good issues.
An excellent cast unite including Adam Sandler, Jennifer Garner, Judy Greer, Kaitlyn Dever, Ansel Elgort, Rosemarie DeWitt and J.K. Simmons, with narration coming from Emma Thompson. The inter-locking stories all keep you hooked with Sandler delivering one of his best performances in years alongside DeWitt.
But perhaps the films greatest asset is its visual interpretation of the digital age and how it affects our lives. Technology can date a film incredibly but for the here-and-now, Men, Women & Children gets the balance right. The school scenes, especially involving Justified star Kaitlyn Dever and The Fault in Our Stars heartthrob Ansel Elgort are a particular highlight.
Men, Women & Children has divided audiences but it’s a very well made and astute study of the human condition and the perils and pitfalls of technology. There are predictable elements in the final third but on the whole this is a well-acted and involving drama with plenty of positives going for it.
Men, Women & Children is available on EST & VOD on March 30th 2015.
