So. Let’s see. I enjoyed this movie while watching it but in discussing it afterward with my fellow viewer who had NOT read the books, it really seems the movie’s a bit THIN. Certain scenes ONLY MAKE SENSE — or have a very important part of them that only make sense — if you’ve read the books and can say “oh, well that’s because of X thing not shown in the movie.” So that’s one problem.

And the choices they made around certain plot points, particularly those toward the end of the film, mean that while this was an adequate movie of book 1, it will be nigh impossible to make even adequate movies of books 2 and 3.

I liked the mood and tone, I think they got some of that stuff right. But I think they got enough stuff wrong that it’s only adequate. And I think they’ve screwed up the avenues that would have allowed them to do a decent job going forward

Perhaps some of that is because I reread the book right before I saw the movie. (And then came home and reread books 2 and 3.) But if it can’t stand up to that kind of scrutiny, then it doesn’t work.

Since you already know, I detested Bridesmaids, you must not be surprised to hear I equally detested this?

Part of it was my fault, though: I went to this movie wanting to see a movie about someone like, say, Ben Wyatt, that sweet adorable man from Parks & Rec (played by Adam Scott, of course). I did not go to it wanting to see Adam Scott play a crass jerk. So basically I was bound to not be a fan based on my own expectations.

Yes, the dinner party scene was some wonderful writing and outstanding acting. But what resulted from that scene really should have been very different, in my opinion. So I do blame the movie for some of my disappointment. Heh.

I hate hate hate hate the crass response of the last line of the film so so so so much. Blech.

This whole “women can be crass too! SEE! SEE HOW CRASS WE CAN BE!” movement is SO not what I want to see at the movies. OR ANYWHERE. (And FYI unlike much of the world, I hate the boy versions of those movies just as much. Yuck.)

I believe this movie was shot a few years ago (2005?) but just released.

There were some decent performances but it’s a bit of a mess. Seemed like two (or even three) completely different movies all smushed into one. (For example, the mom’s dating storyline could easily have lifted right out of the movie.)