Rating: 
Summary: Wish I had hung up on this film
Review: I thought that a film that cast Walther Matthau, Diane Keaton, Meg Ryan and Lisa Kudrow would not add up to a wasted Sunday afternoon. I was so wrong. The movie drags on... so much that my uncle fell asleep and my aunt went for several bags of popcorn, as if munching would somehow alleviate boredom. At the end, we looked at each other and wondered why we had not just hung up on it and walked out. The movie left us with such bad aftertaste that we immediately bought tickets to a second film (The Cider House Rules), which more than made up for the first one.
Rating: 
Summary: Better than the critics would have you believe
Review: It seems the critics really hated this movie, but I found the premise one that really deserved addressing. The issue of one child being left to care for an ailing parent, while the other selfish siblings are heard from only if things aren't going their way, is an issue with which I'm sure many people have to deal. In this movie, Meg Ryan plays the one that gets all the work and none of the credit. She does just a wonderful job, as does Walter Matthau as the father suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Though I might question some of the casting, based on ages of the actors (17 years difference between the oldest and youngest children!), even Kudrow and Keaton play their parts well...as spoiled, self centered siblings. I believe what may be a turn-off to some is the presence of TOO MANY obnoxious personalities. The movie would have been much better without the presence of Adam Arkin's or Jesse James's characters...and I probably would have felt more sympathy for Meg Ryan's character as well. Though the movie was far from perfect, there were some emotional moments in the movie that made up for its shortcomings. I think the biggest problem with the story line was the unrealistic unity of the sisters at the end of the movie. Self-centered individuals do not suddenly change their ways. Had Meg's character gone on her way, leaving the sisters to SEE the error of their ways, it would have been a much more effective ending. As for the transfer....as usual, a fantastic anamorphic widescreen picture from Columbia. The special features are not great, but certainly more than one gets on most basic DVD's. In the end, I would say this is an enjoyable...though not completely fulfilling movie. It could have been better, but it is definitely worth a rental...or if you can find it in the bargain bin as I did....a cheap purchase. {As an added challenge....see if you can recognize the film error as the cars are racing to the hospital toward the end of the movie.)
Rating:
Summary: Get out of here! With that ill fitting wig!
Review: Ever had a busy day? Ever had a busy week? How about a busy life thus far? Well, if so you have something in common with our three leads whom most often have a hard time just HANGING UP. Alot of people just didn't care for this film, while it does get sketchy at times ..so does life. The story involves three sisters (one has her own magazine (Diane Keaton), one is a soap opera actress (Lisa Kudrow), and the other (Meg Ryan) whom has a more everyday career, she also is the one sister that seems to care the most about her family. Walter Matthau (last movie I think) plays the ill father who Meg Ryan visits frequently at the hospital, despite little to no visits from the other two sisters. If nothing else, HANGING UP taught me that sometimes in life, in order to make it.. you must simply hang it up. When life seems to be non-stop.. family, friends, work, school, daycare, cooking, cleaning, driving, yard work, doctor visits, ect.. Wouldn't it be nice to have a pause button on life. Sometimes we all need to stop and live a little. HANGING UP may have ended up being known as one of Meg Ryan's weaker chick flicks, but I'd say it's a bit more than that. For those of you that have been mislead, this film is NOT a comedy. It is a drama with a few laughs. Keep that in mind if you watch the misleading trailer.
Rating: 
Summary: Sometimes You Just Need to Hang Up
Review: When I first saw this movie, I have to admit that I wasn't very impressed by it. You're going from sister to sister, scene to scene very quickly. I didn't have much time to understand what was even going on. So I decided to give the movie another chance, mostly because Diane Keaton is my favorite actress. So I did and as I watched, I became more aware of what was going on. Meg Ryan, Lisa Kudrow, and Diane Keaton all give stunning performances in this movie. Walter Matthau gave a great performance as the father. The sad part is, is that this was his final film before he passed away. Cloris Leachman has a very small part in the movie, but the parts that she is in are quite effective. Many people view this movie as a comedy. It is definitely not a comedy. It is a drama. If you watch closely and really pay attention to what is going on, then you'll see the difference. Eve (Ryan) is trying to balance her son and husband and caring for her father. Something that Maddy (Kudrow), a soap star and Georgia (Keaton), the head of a magazine entitled 'Georgia' will not do. They are too wrapped up in their own lives to come and help care for their dying father. Yes, the ending is a little predictable, but it is also very touching. If you're looking for a movie that has everyone getting along all the time, don't rent this. But if you want to watch a movie that shows what true family can be, rent this. Granted, many families are not like this, but hey, you never know!
Rating:
Summary: Not that bad, not great, either
Review: I just watched this film on DVD, and to a regular guy like myself (I think I'm pretty regular), it was not a bad experience. Maybe it's because my mom and her siblings are currently dealing with their mother right now, and the movie struck a chord... Anyway, I thought Meg Ryan was terrific in this film. In her other films she always tried to be cute and funny. When I was younger I liked that, but then I found her boring. But she's good in this one as the middle child who has the (mis)luck of caring for her dying father. Keaton, on the other hand, is totally unconvincing as either a magazine mogul or first daughter, and she had no screen presence at all; plus her outfit and makeup, which are meant to make her character look younger than the actress herself, are a disaster. Kudlow does what she does best: playing a dumb, clueless blonde. As for the story, it has certain charms, but ultimately falls apart because it's confusing and melodramatic. (Be sure to watch a deleted scene on the DVD.) As some reviewers pointed out all too often the movie seems directionless, and the on-screen chemistry of the three sisters is rather lacking. Funny Evie keeps asking about the name of a "bland" actress from the 50s; the movie just gets more and more bland. But Ryan is good enough that she keeps the film moving and makes me like her again.
Rating:
Summary: Drama--Not Comedy
Review: It's now strange to see Meg Ryan outside her usual genre--the romantic comedy. This movie is a touching drama of an ailing parent and his three daughters. I think the reason so many people were disappointed with this film is because it was advertised as a comedy. Though the main theme is sad, the film also has comic touches. Overall though I don't believe this could be called a comedy. Good acting was turned in by all. Well worth seeing at least once.
| 
