Great movie, very emotional, well written and acted. Don't tell anybody but I cried thru the whole movie.

Life as a House is an inspirational movie that revolves around the relationship of a terminally ill father(George Monroe) and his troubled son(Sam Monroe). Both of them struggle to enjoy the true value of life and are emotionally hurt. Although everything changes once George is diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer and this movie depicts the transformation of their lives together. Despite being sick, George manages to keep his condition covert and he chooses to make the most of his time while he still has a chance. Sam is a misunderstood teenager who has just never received the necessary guidance to move forward in life, and looks to narcotics as an escape from the the hardships of the real world. Realizing his time is fading, George calls his son over for the summer to share what precious time he has left and to make a lasting impact that will hopefully steer Sam in the right direction. Regardless of the great story line and good performances from Kevin Kline and Hayden Christensen, the movie is below par in a few categories. The supporting actors were poorly cast and their acting seemed to be completely fake in several scenes. The focus on unnecessary side stories also adds time to the film which disengages viewers due to its dullness and uninteresting themes. The soundtrack and filming was also lackluster and failed to serve this movie justice. Despite the weak performances and substandard technical aspects, Life as a House is a breathtaking film. The shortcomings of this movie pale in comparison to the overall plot and acting from the father-son duo. This movie is very deep and emotional, and touches on a lot of sensitive subjects. Exemplifying the true importance of life, Life as a House is a very strong movie that deserves to be recognized as one.

A good movie about marriage, broken families, what life promises and what we fail to deliver. It is also about finding love again, finding a path to the heart of someone dear, and finding a way to overcome your own weaknesses, and that we should never think that it is too late, because a moment of meaning is worth every effort. This movie hosts one of the best lines in all the inspirational movies I have ever seen: "I can tell you I love you as many times as you can stand to hear it and all that does, the only thing, is remind us, that love is not enough, not even close". This would be on all the lists of inspirational movies if it were not so real-life, down the nitty-gritty, filth, mistakes, infidelities and addictions of the characters. That rich and balanced mix is also what makes it so believable and so touching, moving and captivating. It is a tear-jerker and a good one at that, as such family-related dramas should be. I do not know if I will go back and watch this again once or twice a year like I do Shawshank Redemption or other inspirational movies. But it is definitely a keeper, to revisit, for some excellent scenes, good acting and beautiful scenery.

If given one word to describe this film: Amazing. If given three words: Amazing, Amazing, Amazing.Kevin Kline, Kristin Thomas, and Hayden Christensen all give very convincing portrayals of their characters, the acting is beyond extraordinary. They make you empathize more than you'd imagine possible.Some compare it to American Beauty, but I believe both movies are in a class of their own. American Beauty was a bit darker than this film is, but either way, this is worth the watch.This film is a must-see under any circumstance! Every moment sucks you in and you're always eager for more. I was expecting an easy watch, but not such an emotionally enticing film. I know that this film will stay with me forever, it's one of those movies that you always remember, the one that doesn't have to be written down because you'll always have the title memorized.Bravo to the Director, the Writer, and all of the actors.