Away we go

"Sometimes I wonder if we are fuckups"

Sparked by the impending birth of their child and sudden emigration of Burt's parents to Belgium, the mid-30s something couple decide that they need to get out of their student hut type existence in the wilderness and move to a larger city. And organise their adult lives. 

Burt and Veron embark on a road-trip visiting friends / relatives in different cities hoping to find the ideal model of adulthood to adopt. But they come across alternate philosophies & every day problems of everyday relationships that seem to intimidate them - which enables the couple to meander towards their eventual destination. 

The plot does appear unrealistic, a bit smug, a bit too sweet - but its what I would call a humorous fantasy movie. That said, it was funny, youthfully entertaining and with a lot that one could related to, fuckups that we are.

Rating: * * *

The Lookout

Chris Pratt (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is on a joyride with his girlfriend and friends, trying to catch fireflies on a dark country road. But what catches him is the jaw of death in the form of a stationary trailer. Death unfortunately only nips him, so he goes from being the local jock with a promising life, to a washed up broken man recovering from a brain injury, working as a janitor at a bank. Hardly able to hold a thought, he lives with the blind Lewis (Jeff Daniels) who helps him get through his day. This is when Gary Spargo (Matthew Goode) befriends him and talks him into helping with a bank robbery. Needless to say, rest of the film was very predictable.

Rating: * *

The Squid and the Whale

A story of divorce and its aftermath set in New York. Bernard Berkman (Jeff Daniels) is an unmitigated asshole writer on the decline. His wife Joan (Laura Linney) who has issues of her own decides to finally leave him. The splinters of their separation hit their two teenage sons with unnerving accuracy. The boys (Owen Kline, Jesse Eisenberg) struggle to grapple with their shattered world. They act out but their cries are muted when compared to the parents. Brilliant performance all round that leave you wondering if they were acting or if a hidden camera was lurking in a disintegrated household.

Rating: * * +

Terms of Endearment

One of those stories of the 80s that told you all that went on in a family. Here its mother (Shirley Maclaine, who was really good) and daughter (Debra Winger) who help each other through their respective lives. Jack Nicholson as an astronaut neighbour of the mother provides good distraction. Good for sunday brunch viewing. Bit of a surprise that it collected 5 Oscar awards.

Rating: * *