The idea of watching Anton Kutcher in a dramatic role, a stretch for this actor, came in the way of "Personal Effects", a story about grieving that serves to unite two people that have suffered by the loss of loved ones. The film by David Hollander is based on a short story by Rick Moody, whose novel, "The Ice Storm", got a good adaptation for the cinema some years ago. Mr. Hollander wrote the screenplay for what appears was a vehicle for Mr. Kutcher and Michelle Pfeiffer.Walter is a college wrestler whose loss of his sister proves to be a big burden for him. He becomes relentless in his pursuit to bring the killer to get the punishment he deserves, but the justice system does nothing to mitigate his pain. At the same time, Linda, a single mother, is part of the victim's support group where Walter and his mother Gloria go to seek closure, while the trial for the sister and the husband is in progress in court, simultaneously.Linda also is coping with a deaf mute teenager, Clay, who is being bullied at a sort of school for troubled youths, where he goes. Walter steps in to help Clay, without any ulterior motive, just out of his own sense of fair play. Clay is grateful even when his mother and Walter begin a torrid affair. This troubled young man will ultimately come to help Walter in an unsolicited way that could have been fatal and that lands Clay in a sort of reform facility."Personal Effects" keeps the viewer's attention. Director David Hollander's staging of this basically bleak film, shows not too inspired in the way he sets the drama. Anton Kutcher looks a bit awkward out of his usual comedy roles, but one can forgive him for his courageous effort to mature into more dramatic characters. Michelle Pfeiffer, even at fifty looks gorgeous. Her Linda is not perhaps one of the best things she has done in her long career. Kathy Bates, playing Gloria is an after thought, for she has not much to do. On the other hand, young Spencer Hudson shows a promise in his debut as Clay.

Decent movie, but I found myself lost in several areas. I was not impressed with synopsis surrounding Ashton Kutcher and Michelle Pfeiffer's characters. It was weak in many areas, personal relationship, where the characters drew their strength and weaknesses from. I found myself being bored in many parts, and had to come back to the storyline several times to keep my interest intact. Kathy Bates did very well with the limited material provided, and understood some of the areas where humor was included and needed. I was more impressed with Aleks Paunovic and Spencer Hudson, and would like to have seen their characters expanded much more in the movie. It's a shame, and I would have rated it higher were this the case. Paunovic and Hudson appear to be excellent actors!

What can you say about a movie that deals with 2 murders, a rape, mental disorders, emotional issues, deafness and the prison with the hero in a chicken outfit saying "What the Cluck?!"?You laugh. But you're never sure whether you're supposed to. Is Kutcher's character funny, stupid, mentally/emotionally challenged, all of the above? You're never really sure. Maybe it's supposed to be more realistic that way but it just comes across as confusing. Lost souls, a woman and her son who lost their husband/father to violent death become enmeshed in the life of a young wrestler who lost his sister to rape & violent death. Yes, it's an excuse for groping make-out scenes between the older woman (Michelle Pfeiffer looking like a trailer tramp) and the young wrestler (Ashton Kutcher). Hard not to draw connections to Kutcher's real life marriage to Demi Moore, much older and former wife of Bruce Willis. It takes courage to boink where Bruce has boinked before and it took courage to make this movie. But it's hard to follow why in both cases. "What the Cluck?" indeed

I Don't Know Why This Movie Got Such Low Ranking Here.I Think The Story Was Interesting And Original. Rhe Plot Is A Bit Simple, But It Is More About People, And Relationships.The Acting Was Good, And It Was Nice To Sea That Michelle Pfeiffer Still Looking Great To Her Age, And I Also Liked Her Acting.I Think This Is Typically A Movie That Women Would Like To Watch, Probably Older Women, However Since It's Not The Typical Hollywood Romantic Comedy Silly Movie, And Has A Strong Male Character (Ashton Kutcher) Other People Will Find It Also Apealling.I Thought The Ending Was A Lirle Bit Predictable And Forced, But It Is Still Holiwood Movie.