The Descendants
Director: Alexander Payne
Cast: George Clooney, Beau Bridges, Judy Greer
Rated: R
Running time: 115 minutes
This movie is called The Descendants but most people simply know it as the Clooney movie that's out now. And it certainly is his show. This time he's a real estate lawyer who has some serious family roots in Hawaii.
The film starts with George giving us the voiceover treatment of how people assume Hawaii is paradise, but that life can suck just as bad in paradise as anywhere else. George is dealing with a wife in a coma and a family inheritance drama involving a large chunk of the island. What follows is a door-to-door trip telling everyone his wife is dying and dealing with the emotions that follow. Yes, there is a lot of crying.
Thankfully, most of the actors do a very good job of realistically turning on the water works. Then there's George. He does a fine job through most of the movie in which he does not play his usual sexy smartass role. So when it comes time for him to weep, it's almost refreshing to see there are limits to even his power, and convincingly crying over a dying wife is that limit.
In the end, this is a tough movie to review because while it's not good enough to recommend, it is also not bad enough to warn you to stay away. If the words "George Clooney" make you want to see a film, then you will no doubt enjoy spending your time with The Descendants.
Update: Looks like The Descendants won the Oscar for best adapted screenplay, beating out Hugo and Moneyball. Both of those films were far better, but who am I to argue with an out-of-touch award where a bunch of old white men give out their awards to other old white men?
