Rating: Summary: Could this Be any worse? Review: This has got to be one of the biggest wastes of talent i've ever seen next to "Sphere." I would have expected more from Walter Matthau, Diane Keaton, and Lisa Kudrow. I'm sure that the people responsible for this figured everyone would be crying their eyes out at such a heartfelt movie. Bollocks to that! I sat through this trite not feeling anything for these one-dimensional characters. Every scene and event felt so fake. But of course, we, as the completely dumb moviegoing audience, are just supposed to sit back and be spoonfed this garbage until the predictably obnoxious food-fight (or flour-fight or whatever) that serves as its resolution comes at the end. Please, for your own sake, stay away from this movie. Agree? Disagree?
Rating: Summary: Can someone please stop the phone ringing! Review: If you're one of those rare people who actually enjoys listening to half a conversation as airheads yap with their cellphones in public places, this is definitely a movie for you! Every two minutes, the phone rings in this disaster and another half a conversation starts.Worse, while they're on the phone yapping, the characters are always rudely ignoring others in the same room with them. This is just too real and too annoying. If I hadn't seen it myself and someone had told me you could make a movie this bad with Meg Ryan, Diane Keaton, Lisa Kudrow and Walter Matthau, I'd never have believed it was possible. Believe it. I say hang up on Hanging Up. The characters and screenplay are repellent. Don't waste your money. I gave it one star because Amazon won't let me give it zero.
Rating: Summary: Girls' Night Out Review: 'Hanging Up' is another quintessential 'Chick Flick' written by Delia and Nora Ephron (When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail). This film pins the schmaltzometer to the max and jams every stereotypical female family relationship problem the Ephron's can think of into one frenetic emotional catharsis. And that's its problem. It is just too busy with rhapsodic projectiles whizzing by in all directions. The story revolves around three sisters and their dad, exaggerated stereotypes all. There is the hard driving, super successful, totally self absorbed oldest sister Georgia (Diane Keaton), the manic, self sacrificing martyr of a caretaker sister Eve (Meg Ryan) and the over achieving, self doubting, no one takes me seriously, baby sister Maddy (Lisa Kudrow). To add a little nitroglycerin to the family mix, we have the alcoholic, emotionally abusive, crotchety, crude, senile father (Walter Matthau) who is now in rapidly declining health. There is no real plot here. It is a character study which focuses on the relationship between Eve and her father, with a side order of everyone else. As character studies go, it wasn't bad, but the characters are so burdened with hackneyed stereotypes that no subtleties can emerge. The dialogue between the sisters is extremely shrill and disjointed with everyone frequently talking at once. The only relief from all the shrieking is provided by Matthau's deadpan ribald humor. The acting was strong by all, especially Walter Matthau, whose sneering and lechery seem to get better the older he gets. Unfortunately, the characters were trite and despite all the talent on the screen, it was difficult to connect with them. I rated this film a 6/10. Subtract 2 points if you are male. If you are female, add one point for each sister you have and add another two if Walter Matthau reminds you of your dad. And girls, if you decide to rent this film invite your sister(s) over and do it on a night that your man is out at a tractor pull.
Rating: Summary: Good, not great Review: This movie is not at all what I expected. Yes, Meg Ryan, Diane Keaton and Lisa Kudrow are great actresses, and they're the ones that make the film work. Eve (Ryan), unlike Maddy (Kudrow) and Georgia (Keaton), is often worried about her father's (Walter Matthau) health, and she devotes the majority of her time to him. Maddy and Georgia take their father for granted, except for Eve. But in the midst of their father's failing health, the three sisters reestablish their relationship. This movie is not a comedy -- there are more dramatic moments than funny ones. But I still think it's worth watching. Ryan, Keaton and Kudrow are a great trio, even in a mediocre film like this one.
Rating: Summary: Don't Waste Your Time Review: Terrible movie coming from three great actresses. Half of the movie is spent with them talking to each other on cell phones. Very boring.
Rating: Summary: Not Quite Your Average Chick Flick Review: Hanging Up is about threee sisters who have to cope with their fathers illness and that brings all three together. It's a strange film,but I like it anyway. Grade: B
Rating: Summary: A TRUE BITTERSWEET COMEDY IF EVER THERE WAS ONE. Review: Another great Nora Ephron film. Yes, it is fairly depressing, given the subject matter. But, it has moments of mirth that take you right back out of your sadness. I admit that I cried throughout this movie, partly because it was so touching and emotionally charged, but also because it hit home with me (regarding my own father's death). Meg Ryan and Diane Keaton have always been my favorites. Lisa Kudrow is good, too, as the younger sister. And, Walter Matthau did a fantastic job as the father, though the decrepidness of his character restricts the viewer from seeing that wonderful Matthau charm. I was distracted by the make-up, or lack thereof, particularly on Matthau, who looked 110, instead of in his 70's (or 80's -- How old is he, anyway?). It might play better on video, since the larger than life big screen makes everybody's face (particularly Keaton and Matthau) look so old and withered.
Rating: Summary: Needs 'FIXING UP'. Review: There are no really good things about this movie. Okay, letsstart off with the fact that it basically has no storyline and thatMeg Ryan takes basically ALL of the movie up until the last 25 minutes (not that I have a problem with Meg Ryan - but she took, like, all the lines!) Okay in some places, 'Hanging Up' can be quite funny but really, I wouldn't recommend it unless you enjoy stupid chick flicks. A miss for me.
Rating: Summary: Don't go expecting a comedy Review: This is one of those movies that you hate in the theater, but later you revisit it in your mind and you realize it was not that bad. I went in thinking I was going to be constantly laugihing because of the great comidiens in this movie. I will not lie to you, I did laugh but it was hard to take. Do not go on one of those days when you want to see a movie that does not require much thinking. But I did enjoy this flick.
Rating: Summary: Could relate! Review: I sound like I am the only one who enjoyed "Hanging Up". Having gone through the exact same experience, myself, I could relate to the main character, Eve. In a sole caregiver situation, you get to the point where, like Eve, you "Hang Up", disconnect! The only sore point in the movie was Walter Matthau. I love him. But this film did not portray him in the best light, which the character deserved, but Matthau did not. He is a wonderful actor, and should probably have passed on this character study. I think Diane Keaton did a good job in directing and acting in this movie. I hope it won't be her last! So see "Hanging Up", and if you can relate, don't hang up, don't disconnect, take comfort in this movie. Know that you are not alone.
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