Did the other reviewers neglect to mention that the two supposedly well educated parents constantly used the most foul language imaginable to and about their two early teen children? Or that the younger boy was sexually gratifying himself and spreading the guk all over the library books at school? Be warned before you pay money to watch this movie. 12-1-07

All he (the screenwriter) has done was hiding some secret meanings to a number of entities for the viewers to solve. Sure, it's fun working on a puzzle as long as it's "interesting". People give away awards for it because I understand the world is full of crappy writers. In other words, the screenwriter for this movie got "lucky". Now let's focus on the big picture. As far as the artistic flavor is concerned, this movie is below average. Music is crappy. Lighting is crappy. No emphasis on anything. Horrible crap. Indescribable. Good enough for America's Funniest Video. And it's not even 90 minutes long. The writer failed to stretch the script.

There is quite a personal feel to this movie that captures a couple that is divorcing and how that affects their children. I enjoy the interesting rhythm to the dialogue in Noah Baumbach movies and this one was no exception. The family is portrayed as overly honest and perhaps inappropriate conversations with their children. Overall it's an interesting slice of life type of movie. There's a bit of a story as everyone adjusts to the divorce but it's really not about payoff. The running time is under 90 minutes so it's short and sweet and doesn't outstay its welcome.

Although the movie shows excellent acting, it doesn't go anywhere. The Squid and the Whale is a display in the Natural History Museum. It shows a fight between a giant squid and a whale, and it seems to be used as a metaphor for the fight of two parents. The parents separate in the beginning of the movie. Some attempts are made to get together again, but when one shows willingness the other one rejects that, and vice-versa. In the end the sons have left their father as well. And that is the entire plot. So not much is going on this movie. However, the acting by almost all actors is very good, and it is a feast to see that. So all in all, I gave this movie a 7/10, but mainly for the acting.