I don't know the tastes of the average moviegoer who gives this a 5.5 but I got much pleasure from watching this very real movie about real people getting through life--fumbling through life. The director's touch is soft and delicate; the characters are real, three-dimensional, imperfect,vulnerable and lovable.Yes, I can see how someone could be bored by the movie if they have ADHD and are looking for thrills/tension/resolution. Nothing much happens in the movie and there is no grand resolution at the end, so it won't do well in the box office. But smart and sensitive connoisseurs of psychological movies will appreciate the gentleness of the story.It really is a movie about family relationships and the subtle tensions and adjustments that happen.If you have soft eyes to gaze at the humanness of ordinary people going through their private pain, compassion for the heart and spirit they show in keeping their head above water and appreciative of a director who is not trying to hit you on the head with a heavy moral message--watch this movie.I am left feeling wistful and mellow having watched some very real, complex and believable characters. Loved it.

I found this one on Netflix streaming movies. Offbeat and different, I enjoyed most of it, but nothing is tied up at the end, all the issues are left hanging. I suppose that was the intent, maybe just to say now Laura for the first time in her life realizes fully what is going on around her and has a chance to deal with it. Or, maybe they just didn't know how to end it any other way.Jenna Fischer is Laura. She uses a very understated style for this character, plays her not necessarily as an unintelligent person, but maybe just a bit slow to organize her thoughts and realize what is going on. Like the scene where her son's teacher ends with "He was a real hero." Laura is just agreeing then after a few seconds realizes she has no idea what the "hero" comment meant. It turns out her son told everyone at school that his dad was a firefighter who died in 9/11 while saving people.In another scene her sister's husband ends up confessing to her that the main reason he married her sister was so he could remain in Laura's life, and she responded with a slight smile, "How's that working out for you?" (You had to be there.)Her husband is played, briefly, by Chris O'Donnell as Bob. Briefly because he dies early in the story, a heart irregularity. Now with him and his good job gone, and with little in the way of life insurance, we wonder if Laura will be able to maintain her life style on Long Island. So her sister eggs her on to hire a lawyer for a malpractice suit.Their son, 12-year-old Daniel Yelsky is Dennis. He is sort of a cute kid but a bit overweight and with a puffy face. He doesn't always tell the truth and isn't always respectful. He does a few things that get them in hot water with the friends and neighbors.One of the kids is an aspiring musician, and his dad surprises him by taking him to work at a radio station. The guest that day is Dion DiMucci (playing himself) and in addition to having a good part in the story itself, it brought back good memories for me, as Dion was one of the popular singers back in the 1960s and 1970s when I was young.In another blast from the past, the son of Bob Dylan, Jakob Dylan wrote the music and sang some of the songs for the movie, sounding not too much different from his dad all those years ago.So overall I liked the movie, especially Jenna Fischer. It is sort of her "coming of age" 20 years after high school

Very realistic! I laughed throughout the whole movie. Jenna is amazing! I already watched it twice and referred it to my dental hygienist co workers....loved it! My husband and I are joking and repeating some of the script about our everyday situations. We really loved the attorney part. He was also amazing and he would be an awesome attorney in real life! I have already saw this movie twice and plan to watch it again with my friends. The lie reminded me of my daughter when she was younger and it made that part so amusing. I thought Jenna and the attorney were so hilarious throughout the whole movie. I wouldn't mind watching a sequel to this movie. So funny!

Sad how someone writes a story about someones life that he has invaded. The truth is her husband was a bastard cheated and he had heart surgery and lived he lift for another woman. Left her and the kid with nothing(he got that part right. later he got custody of her kid. All because this writer and his friends hound her and wouldn't leave her alone which caused upset in the home. Maybe the writer should write about his own life experiences and leave this poor woman who has been to hell and back alone. All she wants is to try and live a happy and normal life. about the music you be the judge The acting you be the judge