Bottom Line: I think I would have enjoyed this film more if I attempted to deconstruct it (listen to the score, sound cues, attempt to convert a scene into a pages of a screenplay..).Having left my 'angst-y days' behind me --- I might have tuned out during the sections of the film when Ellie was stuck with what was happening in her life. Then when I was paying very close attention, I was looking at scene photography.I know it's not as heavy (or tragic!) as 'In The Bedroom', it's just my way of picking something to watch (or continuing on) is for motivation or inspiration. So mostly what I go for now (aside from the film having to be rated 'M' or below) are films that have an element of hope in it…that can grab me by the hand and be able to hang on to me until the end.This did…and somehow…even gave me the idea to watch it again…closely while deconstructing it. Well…that's something! That's why I gave it 5 stars out of 10.Note: feel free to reach out to me (https://laysnotes.wordpress.com/about/fcv/) for a copy of my time-stamp review of this film (or score cue notes!). I do recommend you see the it first, but if you already sure that it isn't for you based on what I've wrote (whoa! The trust! Hehehe) --- I'm okay with that.

I just saw this off Showtime the other day. Aussie actress, Toni Collette, with her breakout performance in "Muriel's Wedding" twenty years ago, and since then amazing work in "The Sixth Sense", the show "United States of Tara", and more recently re-uniting with her "Muriel" director PJ Hogan for the film, "Mental", has evolved into one of the world's great actresses, and one of my personal favs. In "Lucky Them" she plays a rock journalist assigned with tracking down her ex-boyfriend/former rock star who has since become a recluse (I won't say who it turns out to be *possible SPOILER* but you may have seen him in a few things ;) ). Her old pal played by Thomas Haden Church is along for the ride. And for me, what made this road movie was the relationship/chemistry between Church and Collette. Ever since TV's "Wings", Church has impressed me in so many performances over the years- "Sideways", the original AMC movie "Broken Trail", and right around the time "Wings" was on the air, the Fox series "Ned and Stacey", which we got to see him portray the romantic leading man. Here, his quirky/off- beat character works in contrast to Collette. Well, anyhoo, I would definitely give a recommend for this one.......

This movie is for those people who love independent films that drench the viewer in character emotion and situational drama. You feel this is an indie film from the early beginning..why ? because it focuses on humanity and all of that which is the situational character (of the characters if you need more t understand that point). ..Hollywood simply doesn't do these lovely things because tweenies buy movie tickets.. henceHollywood does BOOMS and POWS and boobs..with little to no plot..it often makes me ill how terrible Hollywood has become..Hollywood forgot that this is an Artform to tell stories. Megan Griffiths, I had never heard her name before, but I will certainly be looking out for her name in years to come and will be looking to view her older films. I am an indie film lover, because in 2015, you have to watch indie films to get characters and story and plot that wasn't drawn by Stan Lee. ..and that is what Megan has done very well in this, brought great actors in niche roles that highlight and buff this dramatic off-ended comedy into a pearl. If anyone says this is a bad film, they're clearly a knucklehead. Toni's character pulls you in with her "struggling to survive and find her ground" selfishness that is her defensive line to her rough edged existence of unknowingly battling with her own demons, all while you see her soft spots rise to the surface for her to recognize and then behold in dramatic effort to eventually make her whole once again. As I said before; each actor, niche like, made this come to life. - Like a good book on a rainy day. Megan Griffiths, Thank You. To the cast & crew as well; thank you all. ;)

The DVD was finally released so I had a chance to see the movie. I wanted to see it primarily because of the superb cast and I wasn't disappointed by a single one of them. But I do wonder how they got the 8 figure salary Johnny Depp to play a bit role. The story didn't move me partly because the characters weren't fleshed out. One sentence or two was all the viewer was given in the way of background. Tom Hayden's character for instance is wealthy but is he really the buffoon who would marry a hooker who is secretly married and blatantly seeking to make Hayden's character become more materialistic? Johnny Depp's character is described as a "shit." Why? We're never told. It's really a tribute to the cast that this movie exists and damn near works.