Rating: 
Summary: Metaphor or not
Review: ...I found no real answers in this movie. My only conclusion was that everyone was making poor choices based on emotional responses or needs that were unfulfilled. ... There is one scene in this movie worth remembering in a big way. It is when Sam (Hayden Christensen) is watching his parents dance. I thought this situation really embodied all those feelings children have about wanting the security of a home where parents really are in love and provide safety and a nurturing environment. The issue of people hugging is an interesting one. In some countries hugging is very normal, but in our society we are a bit "touchy" about hugging. To see men hug in our society sends a different message than it used to. Things are really screwed up...frankly. Of course this movie deals with everything from drugs to teenage prostitution and fortunately for once it doesn't make either look glamorous. Basically Kevin Kline plays a divorced father who is trying to reach out to his son in his last days on earth. He knows he only has a few months to live and must make the best of them. Together they tear down the old house and rebuild a new home. It does seem to be a metaphor of sorts and while it is probably a good one, the ending has a much more powerful message. On one hand it is disappointing that the son doesn't respect his father's wishes. On the other hand, what he does shows he really does have a good heart and that he is actually choosing to let the past go completely. Unlike his father who lived in the house his father gave him. Sure, you will cry at the end (probably the only time you will actually feel emotions while watching this movie) and there are a few thoughtful lines. The swearing got to be a bit much by the end (how many F words can they fit into a script? Sigh) and I would have preferred not to see a young teenager kissing a much older man who her mother had dated. Not to mention a romance between a teenage boy and a much older woman. I mean, do we really want to see this? I don't. Mixed feelings about this movie. It has its moments, but overall, I would not watch it twice. Definitely sends some terrible messages to teenagers about sex while it tries to take the moral high ground in other ways. The relationship between Sam and his father is a nice evolution, but they really don't spend much time on the actual relationship once the house is being built. Someone said that the movie "dictates" emotions to the viewer. Yes, this is true up to the last 20 minutes or so. I also found it annoying that I could not emotionally connect with any of the characters until the movie was almost over. The characters are not fully developed and perhaps if they would have cut out some of the items of lesser importance, they could have focused on the main relationships much more fully.
Rating: 
Summary: Superb Acting, but Overdone Sub-Plots
Review: While the acting in this movie was nothing short of superb, with Kevin Kline and Hayden Christensen giving awe-inspiring performances, the sub-plots along the way, including when Alyssa (Jena Malone), after taking a shower with Sam (Christensen) kisses George (Kline) to "see whether or not you kiss like Sam," and when a teenager sleeps with Alyssa's mother, are very distracting. Although the overall plot was amazing, I could not help but be sidetracked by some of the ridiculously soap-opera-esque sub-plots. Overall a very nice movie, although a little over-the-top with sub-plots, which seem to be an unneeded attempt to keep the viewer satisfied.
Rating:
Summary: "House" a Fine Metaphor for All Lives
Review: At worst, "Life as a House" might be called a death film, but it is only such on a surface layer. Scenes relating to the main character's battle with cancer are kept to a minimum in this movie; and, instead, this length of celluloid comes off as a brillliant celebration of life and the aspects of life that are really important.
Kevin Kline plays an architect, who, after being dismissed from a twenty-year position at his firm, learns he is terminally ill. Using his severence pay and cashing in his life insurance policy, he sets out to build his dream house; and in the process, he begins to rebuild lives that were shattered ten years earlier by his divorce.
Kline's excellent performance, as well as the wonderful performances of the other cast memebers, makes this a video worth adding to your library.
Rating:
Summary: Yawn!
Review: We're watching the first twenty minutes, and all I could think was "predictable boring family drama" - and basically that's what this movie is. Kevin Kline seems to be the same in all his movies - this film actually reminded me of him in "Grand Canyon". 'My Life As A House' comprises a selection of odd characters who end up helping a dying man build a house he should have built many years before. By the end of the movie, I cared no more for this character or his "wayward son come good". The characters just didn't have enough spark to make me feel any compassion for them. I realise that reviews will discuss the special meanings of this movie - such as the importance of family, the need to follow your dreams, good health etc etc, but you will be none the wiser after watching this typical American family crisis movie. Yawn!
Rating: 
Summary: Life as a House
Review: I recommend this movie to everyone, especially people with children and watch it with your children. It makes you really stop and think about how fast life goes by and how much you can miss out on if you don't just stop your self or maybe some thing else will stop you. Never waste a day thinking "I should have...
Rating:
Summary: Proves Hayden's Acting Ability
Review: His role as Sam proves that Hayden Christensen can be a fantastic dramatic actor. Although I would imagine that playing Anakin Skywalker would be the highlight of a career for many actors, this proves that Hayden does infact have a long career ahead of him. This movie also displays the well rocognized talents of Kristen Scott Thomas and Kevin Klein. The story is both dark and touching but always intriguing. The only part that could have improved is the story behind why Sam is so destraught. Likewise, Sam's transition was much too abrupt. He suddenly wants to help his father, doest't hate his mother, and takes out all his piercings. However, this is only a minor flaw and should probably just be overlooked as this is one of the best dramatic movies I have seen in quite a long time.
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT Movie
Review: This is one of the best movies I have ever seen and I recomend you to see it. It teaches you about the relationship of a father and a son and how we shouldn't take it for granted because life is really short. With (what I think should have been) an Oscar nominated performance by Kevin Kline and an Oscar winning performance by Hyden Christensen this movie will make you cry and make you realize how important a relationship between any child and any parent really is.
Rating:
Summary: Like a rollercoster ride of emotions.
Review: "Life As A House" is the brilliant and inspiring film directed by Irwin Winkler and written by Mark Andrus. PLOT SUMMARY: George Monroe (Kevin Kline) is a divorced man around his mid-fourties who has just learned that he is dying from cancer. His relationship with his rebellious, strained teenage son, Sam (Hayden Christensen) is, if anything, invisible. Sam lives with George's ex-wife, Robin Kimball (Kristin Scott Thomas), who married another man. When George insists that Sam spend the summer with him in his shack-of-a-home, which is actually a garage, Sam thinks his life is over. George decides to rebuild his runt-down house in the time that he has left to live. As he builds the house with his family, George starts to learn more about his family as Sam starts to learn about life. Also helping out is a neighbor, Alyssa Beck (Jena Malone), who grows close to Sam. MY OVERALL THOUGHTS: I thought "Life As A House" was a wonderful film. The acting performances were truly superb and could only make the film better and more enjoyable. Stand-out performances include Kline and Christensen--two extremely talented actors with great father/son on-screen chemistry. There wasn't much in the way of special effects, because it's a more drama, but the screenplay was well-written and the characters were well developed. The storyline was excellent, too. This film is filled with emotions--from the confused, rebellion of Sam, to the sadness that George will eventually die. What's interesting about this film is to see how George reconnects with his family after being away from them for so long. The DVD extras are a plus to "Life As A House". The bonus material include deleted scenes, two original documentaries, theatrical press kit (which include cast and crew biographies), DVD-ROM extras, theatrical trailer, and more. The DVD is available in wide screen format. I highly recommend "Life As A House". Score:
100/100
A+
Rating:
Summary: Should've Been Longer
Review: "Life As A House" has been on Starz! for the entire weekend and this week. I caught the last 15 minutes of it and caught the entire movie when it was replayed three hours later on the west coast feed. The only complaint that I have is that the whole movie was set up right from the beginning. Maybe this was just to keep the movie at about two hours. We knew everything we had to know in the first half hour. It was predictable, but it has some fantastic acting in it. Put me down as a fan of Kevin Kline from now on.
Rating:
Summary: A classic
Review: ...It probably did not make a lot of money but I guarantee that your children and your grandchilden will see it again and again... this movie is about the this movie is about family and what it really takes to make a family. It is also about character and morality. The main character shows both character and morality and in the process teaches that to his son...You will enjoy it over and over.
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