Gripping story with well-crafted characters

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Being a faithful fan of Helen Hunt I'm hurting.Firstly, her charm: mostly absent, replaced with this concerned, suffering look we typically see in Meryl Streep's roles.Secondly, her aging: somehow many scenes portray HH as an old woman. Was it intentional? Perhaps, considering that pool of film professionals, who do transformations of characters. However, I fail to see reasons for such decision.Finally, I was permitted to remain under the impression that the whole justification for making this movie was for HH to be around younger men. Some kind of a "trophy role".I would be happier to see other reviews and points of view that would make me drop that hurting.

I am a huge fan of Helen Hunt and I loved the cast member list when I chose to watch it on Netflix. I tried four times to get through it but had to hit fast forward finally, the last time, so I could just get an idea of how it ended. This is probably the only movie of hers that I felt like she was stifled, holding back and underplaying her talent. I just want to ask WHY would this appeal to her? Maybe the script was much better, but this was quite possibly the most dry, long, drawn out, movie I have tried to watch in a very long time. The only redeeming quality in it was the cast members. I've seen her friend and limo driver in Dexter and he's great.

I viewed this movie from the standpoint of a parent of an adult child as is the main character, Jackie. In my view this is what the story is about, how a parent lets go and enjoys watching her child make their way as an adult. In doing so, she is able to move on to becoming a more authentic person as well. I've always been a fan of Helen Hunt and although her appearance has changed, she still brings us her ability to make us feel we are watching a woman bravely dealing with what life is bringing her way. The film present a great contrast between their lives in New York and California. The son, Angelo, travels to CA to visit his dad. I'm a little surprised at how quickly the son, Angelo, adapts to the different lifestyle. Luke Wilson as Jackie's love life is a good match. His calmness contrasting with her franticness plays well.

My impression is nearly everyone is responding to this in stereotypical ways - seeing the mother as impossibly overbearing and interfering.Actually mother and son have a great relationship. They argue intensely and in detail about what his stories should be like - and about life and their relationship in general. This is very well portrayed. And most of us should be so lucky to have such a relationship. So she takes it too far - but hardly in a Tennessee Williams way. And they argue intensely about that too, and work their way to a successful conclusion.Sure, it's all a little too Hollywood pat and neat in the end.But you have an unusual portrait of an unusual and very good mother-son relationship - and a very passionately involved mother. She's very OK. I enjoyed it a lot.