EVERY DAY DVD (2010)
SYNOPSIS: Liev Schreiber (Salt) heads an all-star cast in this warm and wise comic drama as Ned, a loving husband and devoted father dealing with life's curveballs. He's got a stressed-out wife (Helen Hunt, As Good as it Gets) an independent teenage son (Ezra Miller, City Island), and an embittered father-in-law (Brian Dennehy, Silverado) who's turning his home upside down. Ned's job writing a scandalous TV series for a demanding boss (Eddie Izzard, Valkyrie) is unfulfilling, and late night rewrites with a sexy co-worker (Carla Gugino, Entourage) might just push him over the deep end.
MOVIE REVIEW:
We have to admit that we weren’t terribly excited when we read the title of this comedy drama. With a blah title like “Every Day” staring at you on the
It is a shame then, that many people are going to give this a miss, as there is truly something appealing about this overlooked movie about life plays out in a family we can identify with.
Schreiber (Salt, X-Men Origins: Wolverine) plays a television writer who leads a life like yours and mine, until the day his gay son decides to go to a gay prom, his elderly father in law is moving in, and his unreasonable boss wants him to meet ridiculous deadlines. While his wife attempts to take care of her dying father, he has to figure out how to reconnect with his gay son and figure out a relationship with his sexy co worker.
We like the fact that the Richard Levine (TV’s Nip/ Tuck) written screenplay seems so unspectacularly normal – how many of us lead lives which mirror Hollywood superstars? We find it extremely easy to empathise with the different personalities in the 93 minute movie – from Schreiber’s everyday man of the house and Hunt’s (What Women Want, As Good As It Gets) wife who chooses to suffer in silence whenever she can, to Gugino’s (Mr. Popper’s Penguins, Sucker Punch) vocal co worker who is ever ready to try out different things in life and Brian Dennehy’s (Ratatouille, Assault on Precinct 13) old man who is counting down to his days’ end.
Levine has a capable cast to work with, and he manages to direct them to deliver engaging performances which are convincingly affecting. There are several scenes in the movie which (almost) dissonantly reflect what happens around us every other day. The lines are crisply penned, and there are several chuckle worthy scenarios which resonate real life so much that you will nod your head in agreement.
While this is definitely no blockbuster material, the production is recommended for its all round commendable performances, despite occasional moments when you may feel like you are watching an overlong TV movie. The next time a nondescript movie like this comes along, you may want to give it a chance before dismissing it to the “don’t waste my time because I’d rather sleep” category of movies.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
NIL
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The movie's visual transfer is acceptable, and is presented in its original English audio track.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by John Li
