"Both my wife and daughter think I'm this chronic loser. And they're right. I have lost something." That's the central insight of this film. The engine that drives it.
Kevin Spacey plays a man who is lost and unhappy in his life. He doesn't respect himself. He doesn't like who his wife has become. He feels alienated from his daughter. And he doesn't know how to change. Until two chance meetings kick him out of his rut.
The first meeting is with his daughter's girlfriend (Mena Suvari). He instantly falls in love with her. The film shows this in a series of fantasies involving rose petals. She's much too young for him (and this subplot is a little creepy). His desire to become attractive to her makes him want to improve himself.
The second meeting is with the new neighbor kid (Wes Bentley). He's incredibly self-assured. And sells pot. This meeting brings back memories of his high school years and triggers him to try and regain his golden years. This involves lifting weights, driving a hot car and working fast food.
There are interesting points of view and wonderful dialogue throughout this movie. The story is well paced and very well told. The music is...different. But not in a bad way. And the acting is very good.
The biggest flaw is the portrayal of the Marine Colonel living next door. He's a caricature of the worst kind of right-wing nightmare that Hollywood can imagine. Right down to sitting at home with his catatonic wife and watching Ronald Regan movies. He's disgusted by gay people and of course that's only because of his own repressed homosexual feelings. I'm guessing one of the deleted scenes has him twisting his moustache and tying women to a railroad track.
I'm conflicted on how to rate this movie. It's very, very well done. But the message is flawed. A very good movie, at least.
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