the audience applauded

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

disgusting, overrated, pointless

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

I really like Seth Rogen's stuff. Pineaple Express and Superbad are among my favourite comedies of all time and his later efforts like The Night Before and Neighbors really made me laugh and where very enjoyable. Yet i always skipped this movie because i had a feeling it wouldn't be that funny. I stumble on it in one of those bargain bin in a video store, just the DVD with no case for 2$, so at that price... why not. I watched the movie and well, it was what i expected, maybe even less funny. Its not to say the movie does not have qualities and i can totally understand another audience could actually like this movie, but for a Rogen fan expecting some crude humours and big jokes, this movie does not have much. Its just not really funny. I chuckles maybe 3 times trough the whole movie. In the end there is nothing much i can say that has not been said already. This movie is not bad by any mean but i didn't enjoyed it, i was a bit bored at time, probably because i simply am not the target audience.

I've watched this movie five or more times over the last year. I love the dialog and except for the motel scene where Joyce swears at Andy I loved the whole movie. It's a simple and real story; the movie feels real to me. Joyce is so annoying yet it's an annoyance based on a mother's love for her son. Seth's love for his mother is also clear and that makes this a touching encouraging story. His constant muttering in answer to his mother's neurotic over concern and busybody actions treating her son like a boy is hilarious. Joyce doesn't have a clue how to treat Seth like an adult. His flippant remarks are never mean spirited, besides, you can't help but being driven nuts by Joyce's constant prying. Seth grows up during the hard experience of almost failing to sell his brilliant creation and being broke. When he is finally able to extract the wisdom of Joyce from all her annoying chattering, the light turns on and he appreciates Joyce in a new way. I like a happy ending and the new appreciation Joyce and Andy have for each other and for themselves. Andy succeeds in his dream and Joyce has closure with a 30 year old heartbreak and now they can move forward. As a very ordinary person I can relate to their dreams.

A film with Seth Rogen and Barbara Streisand. How could it possibly fail? Well, it sort of does. If you've watched the trailers, you may be under the impression that you're going to be in for a laugh-a-minute ride of silliness which will leave you giggling your gloves off.Nothing could be further from the truth.Warning: this is a 'joke free' film. And, it's major problem, is that it seems to think that it's funny.You may snigger once or twice, but that's about it.However, it's not all bad. Rogen and Streisand are both excellent actors in their own right and they do have some chemistry, but it only really comes out when they're not trying to be funny. They play mother and son who go on a road trip across America. All the way they're bickering with each other and this is supposed to be funny. It isn't - it's mainly stereotypical Jewish references. Yet, when they fall out (and they do, fortunately) and start arguing, that's when the movie really picks up.I don't regret watching it. I just wished I wasn't expecting a hilarious comedy. Just make sure you're in the mood for more of a 'laugh-free' affair before you sit down to watch it and you should get more out of it.http://thewrongtreemoviereviews.blogspot.co.uk/

Of course Barbra hits all the right notes as Joyce. There is a sadness in her eyes that reaches out and grabs you. Even though she looks so young with that flawless skin and her flashy blue eyes, you still feel she is "motherly" enough to be convincing.. Based on a true story, it started out being called "My Mother's Curse" (Streisand liked that title better) and focused more on her sons failure at relationships and how that related to his Mom. It was changed to a more "easy going" feel and the title was changed to The Guilt Trip. Barbra is a natural at comedy. She never feels forced or technical like when a Meryl Streep tries to be funny (which is rare) and you see Meryl's wheels turning. Barbra just lets the moment dictate the mood. That is true comedy talent. Letting the situation fall over ones performance and the piece is driven by the truth. YES.. this could have been a GREAT film if it went for the drama (like a Terms of Endearment). Imagine if it went up to Joyce's death (as the real life character met with a tragic death from pancreatic cancer) and the sons journey became a complete catharsis? Like Aurora's was in Terms of Endearment. As it is... it is a fun and charming little film with a nice amount of touching moments. It has the taste not to over do the antics (the steak eating scene was from real life as well) and the sense to know Streisand's strengths. Seth was OK... would have liked a bit more from him. He feels a bit tight. To his credit, his scenes with Barbra feel natural and there is that built in feeling that they are actually Mother and Son. This film was overly reviewed when it first came out. Critics were writing about it like it was Hamlet and they were disappointed it didn't live up to past Hamlets.. If they reviewed it for what it was and not been so dramatic, it would have better served the public.