If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

I can't say this is a great movie, but I don't know why the critics were so hard on it - currently 8% on by Metacritic professional critics. Hemingway had a long and adventuresome life, and this movie captures the last year he spent at his Cuban estate, Finca Vigia. The beautiful, sprawling, gated estate had been a source of comfort for Hem through two divorces, multiple wars, and the withering of his talent. By 1959, Hem's cumulative emotional distress is mirrored in Cuba's political unrest, and the film captures that quite perfectly.Giovanni Ribisi as Hemingway's new, young writer friend is more toned down that he is in other amped-up roles, and Adrian Sparks effectively becomes Hemingway; it's hard to believe it isn't him in many scenes. Joely Richardson was a terrific foil, moving through the turbulence of their marriage minute by minute, showing the deep love she had for him but also the anger she had at his drunken antics. The film had some very nice touches, like the poly-dactyl cat in a very brief scene; Hemingway loved poly-dactyls in his later years. I felt the movie was fairly well-paced and beautifully filmed. The drama around -- no spoilers -- some government issues was a little out of left field tone-wise, but otherwise I found it a rather lovely little picture, an admirable tribute to a great writer and a flawed man with a lasting legacy.

"Papa: Hemingway in Cuba" (2016 release; 109 min.) brings the story of a young journalist's friendship with and mentorship by Ernest Hemingway in Cuba in the late 50s. As the movie opens, we are in "Seattle 1935", where the then 4 year old boy is abandoned by his father in the middle of a department store. We then flash forward to "Miami Globe 1957", where we get to know the journalist Ed Myers. He finally sends a letter to Hemingway to express how much Hemingway's writings inspired Myers in his darkest hours. Much to Myers' surprise, some time later Hemingway calls and invites him to visit him in Cuba, and so off to Cuba goes Myers. At this point we're not even 15 minutes into the movie, but to tell you more would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.Couple of comments: first, all of the marketing materials regarding this movie list this as "Papa: Hemingway in Cuba", but in the movie itself, it's simply announced as "Papa: A True Story" ("Papa" is of course Hemingway's nickname). Second, this movie is written by Denne Bart Petitclerc, the actual journalist to whom this happened (I figure he changed the name to Ed Myers as, let's face it, his real name is more than a mouthful). Third, this is directed (in his directing debut) by long-time producer Bob Yari. Yari brings the story aptly but without any real surprises or revelations, it's as if he is directing "by the numbers". As you may surmise, given that the story is set in the late 50s, the movie is a mix of observing Hemingway the person, and also seeing how the revolution is playing out in the background. The cast is just okay, with the previously unknown (to me anyway) Adrian Sparks in the Hemingway role. Keep your eyes open for a quick cameo by Mariel Hemingway, the real life granddaughter and erstwhile 'buzz' actress herself. Minka Kelly plays a nice secondary role (as Myers' girlfriend). But you know who is the real star of this movie? That would be the location where much of this was filmed, namely the sprawling Hemingway estate (called Finca Vigía) in Cuba, where Hemingway lived for many years, and which nowadays is the Hemingway national museum in Cuba. Looks to be an amazing place, at least when seeing it on the big screen. Last but not least, there is a nice orchestral score, composed by Mark Isham. Bottom line: this movie has its pros and cons, and its good moments and not-o-good moments. Still, I found myself enjoying this more or less, hence a mixed rating of 3 stars."Papa" opened recently at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati. The Sunday early evening screening where I saw this at this past weekend was attended okay (better than I expected, frankly), and fairly heavy on the seniors side. If you like a historical drama involving some big personalities, "Papa" is worth checking out, be it in the theater, on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray.

Well, okay, maybe the one about continuity -- I had a hard time following the time line of how long Ribisi's character was in Cuba each time ("returning on Tuesday" seemed awfully short compared to everything that happened while he was in Cuba), but I'll overlook that in favor of the story and the excellent acting by the cast. I feel that Adrian Sparks portrayed Papa in all of his flawed, tortured glory without going over the top. The audience senses the churning volcano beneath the surface that occasionally bursts forth. After reading "Hemingway in Love" this past winter, I had a greater depth of understanding for the unresolved guilt and regret that Papa carried in his later years. Joely Richardson was perfect as Mary, a woman who actually had a very interesting life all on her own but who was perpetually in the shadow of the great man. Giovanni Ribisi played his role quite well -- any woodenness belonged to the character and his repressed feelings of abandonment, not to the actor's characterization. Loved the movie, and now must read the book!

Went into this anticipating intriguing true story providing some insights into the revered author. Was initially put off by the embarrassing performances of Papa and especially Mary Hemingway characters, but eventually realized they were provided with a dreadful trite script and were just battling their way through it under vacuous direction. Not being drawn into the story, I had plenty of time to notice the comically inept directing and editing. Amateurish disconnects, visual glitches, motivational and logical inconsistencies, silly scoring, etc. etc. My companion said it had the feel of a Lifetime movie, but I think that is generous because this was a greater waste of talent and potentially interesting material.