Inventing the Abbotts
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Movie Reviews of Inventing the Abbotts
Movie Review: Scenes from the class struggle in Illinois...
Summary: 4 Stars
This film is notable in that it does address the issue of socioeconomic class, which we Americans like to delude ourselves does not exist in our society but which always has and in all probability always will play as central a role as in any society regardless of political ideology.
Two main strengths: a very strong cast (particularly Joaquin Phoenix---as well as Billy Crudup, Jennifer Connelly, Joanna Going, Liv Tyler, and Kathy Baker) and very true-to-period set pieces. It really does look and feel like it's happening back in the mythical 1950s, such that a lot of scenes where I was expecting much stronger language and violence successfully avoided such excesses. This seems to irk many professional reviewers, who panned this film for being bland and uninspiring---hence the shockingly low 33% rating from rottentomatoes dot com.
However I found it very engaging, and of course the 2 older Abbot sisters provide plenty of tasteful eye candy (their mother too, in a cold-blooded rich-b*tch sexy kind of way, heh). The plot was not nearly as predictable as I feared, with several surprising twists and again avoids the kind of sensationalism and viciousness that this jaded viewer was expecting.
In fact while this film deals very much with issues of socioeconomic class it concludes with a surprisingly Reaganistic ending. We see that the rich are not really as evil as we think, and that the poor become and stay poor not without fault of their own, and that if you are blessed with sufficient earnestness, industriousness and True Love like the Joaquin Phoenix character, you need only follow your heart and hallelujah ye shall too be delivered from the workers' quarter to the master's quarters with his comely daughter in tow...God bless Amurrica, yee haw!
LOL I am extrapolating and exaggerating a bit, the ending is not that bad---far from Steven Spielbergian levels of cheesiness for example. Overall it's worth seeing, not sure just how many times though.
Movie Review: If the Abbotts Didn't Exist Jacey Would Have Invented Them
Summary: 4 Stars
Movie Summary: In a small 1950's Illinois town the Abbotts are the family everyone talks about. They are rich and have three beautiful daughters. Their parties are the things of legend in the town. On the other side of the tracks live the Holts. Mrs. Holt has had to raise her two sons, Jacey and Doug, by herself since her husband passed away. The Holts and Abbotts have a long history, some real, some invented. It is this history, the real and the invented, that the Holt brothers have to come to terms with before it destroys them and the Abbotts. My Opinion: This was a very engaging movie with a great cast. Kathy Baker and Joaquin Phoenix were very enjoyable. Michael Keaton's narration adds a touch that makes the movie seem better than it is. I loved the 1950's small town setting as well as the semi-complicated plot. The viewer discovers the secrets of the past at the same time as the brothers do. We see how differently each of them deals with it and get to make our own decision as well. The bothers struggle with the revelations of the past and each find a way to deal with it. It is the different interpretations and actions that each of the brothers takes that is at the core of this story. After watching the movie, I find that I liked it more while I was watching it than I do now. The plot seems to lack that big punch that would make it stay with me and taunt me to watch it again. That aside, it is still worth seeing.
DVD Quality: Widescreen Anamorphic 1.85:1 DD5.1 Picture and sound were great with no noticeable defects. Extra features consist of the trailer and a featurette. The main menu is interesting.
What You Should Do: Rent it if you are into historical pieces. Its a decent movie but youll only need to see it once. This DVD release is nothing special.
Related Movies To Check Out: Waking the Dead, Almost Famous, To Kill a Mockingbird, Outside Providence
Movie Review: Good Movie
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw this movie five years ago when I was in Jamaica. The movie "Inventing the Abbotts" focuses on the typical 1950s family that rose to the American dream of making it big living in the suburbs. The Abbots, a wealthy manufacturing family, maintained the image of family values. Beneath the surface, the older sister had to marry because she was two months pregnant. And the younger sister was a [promiscuous girl] who was sent to a convent. Pam, the middle, is stuck in the middle. She lives between her family's expectations and her love for Doug Holt. Jacey, the older brother, sleeps with the older and younger Abbott sisters to get back at the father for tarnishing the mother's reputation. Doug's love for Pam is unconditional. Pam runs away because she is afraid of what others are thinking. The movie was a good drama because it gave an in-depth look of America post-WW2. The dream that was supposedly a nightmare for both the elite and the working class. Each is struggling with the self, the community, and society.
Movie Review: a lovely little soap opera...
Summary: 4 Stars
Although I tend to be hard on dopey movies like this one, occasionally one will sneak past all my critiques and make me kind of weepy-squishy-smiley inside. That's what happened with this movie."Inventing the Abbots" is formulaic, predictable, melodramatic, and not even remotely clever, but I still found myself rooting for the two main characters to get together in the end, and all the emotional stuff got to me.
If you're looking for something clever or original, skip this movie, but if you're in the mood for a light romantic-drama, "Inventing the Abbots" hits all the right notes. Also, to its credit, the movie stars Billy Crudup, Jennifer Connelly, Liv Tyler, etc. That's a pretty good cast... so even though the plot is contrived and the dialogue is generally uninspired, there are some nice moments that really do work.
A sweet movie, overall, if your standards aren't too high.
Movie Review: Comment on "Inventing the Abbotts"
Summary: 4 Stars
I like the movie because Liv Tyler and Joaquin appear to be such innocent teenage lovers in the film. Billy's character seems not to be satisfied with everything surrounding him. It seems the fate is not fair to him and he envies everything the rich Abbots possess. Besides, I also like the loving mom of the two brothers very much. She is so virtuous and patient with them. Overall it is a very interesting story.