"Life as a House" isn't perfect. It doesn't even come close to perfection. It is hopelessly bogged down with superfluous plot lines, excessive dialogue, and wacky token characters with no real relevance to the story. And yet, "House" manages to overcome all of those flaws to become a truly heartfelt, emotional movie.
It must be stated, right off the bat, that Hayden Christensen is the star of this movie. As Sam Monroe, the blue-haired, multiple-pierced, hopelessly drug-addicted son of divorced parents George (Kevin Kline) and Robin (a mostly stoic and stone-faced Kristin Scott Thomas), Christensen is given his first camera time huffing paint and throttling himself with a necktie in his closet before jacking off. All of this before he even eats breakfast. This character is essentially unlikable; he antagonizes his mother, hates his oddball father, and dabbles in prostitution for baggies of marijuana. When he is forced to spend the summer with terminally-ill George (who wants desperately to repair their damaged relationship before he dies), Sam is quick to down his father's painkillers and verbally and emotionally attack him. It's amazing what Christensen weaves into this character. Underneath the hostility and hatred is a frightened boy who wants to reach out to George but won't. He is so convincing and believable; the scene after George flushes Sam's drugs was my favorite, sublime acting on both parts. Even when Sam removes his chin ring and stops popping pills, he's still edgy, still needs a shoulder to fall onto. I don't really like Jena Malone in her role as Alyssa (Sam's love interest) but boy, those shower scenes were surprisingly intense.
Of course, you can find fault with this film. There are plot holes that rival the Grand Canyon (exactly what disease does George have again? Oh, wait, they don't actually say). Kristin Scott Thomas was duller than dirt for the first 75% of the movie. She warmed up after a while, but only she could deliver, deadpan, a line confessing that she hates her own son. The whole Mary Steenburgen/Ian Somerhalder line should have ended up on the cutting room floor; it had nothing to do with the plot and didn't involve any relevant characters. Kevin Kline was outstanding, but still, Hayden Christensen stole the entire movie out from under him.
If you're looking for big-name stars and perfect filmmaking, don't come within a mile of this movie. If you want a truly endearing, emotionally intense movie showcasing some very talented newcomers (and veterans), I highly recommend it.
It must be stated, right off the bat, that Hayden Christensen is the star of this movie. As Sam Monroe, the blue-haired, multiple-pierced, hopelessly drug-addicted son of divorced parents George (Kevin Kline) and Robin (a mostly stoic and stone-faced Kristin Scott Thomas), Christensen is given his first camera time huffing paint and throttling himself with a necktie in his closet before jacking off. All of this before he even eats breakfast. This character is essentially unlikable; he antagonizes his mother, hates his oddball father, and dabbles in prostitution for baggies of marijuana. When he is forced to spend the summer with terminally-ill George (who wants desperately to repair their damaged relationship before he dies), Sam is quick to down his father's painkillers and verbally and emotionally attack him. It's amazing what Christensen weaves into this character. Underneath the hostility and hatred is a frightened boy who wants to reach out to George but won't. He is so convincing and believable; the scene after George flushes Sam's drugs was my favorite, sublime acting on both parts. Even when Sam removes his chin ring and stops popping pills, he's still edgy, still needs a shoulder to fall onto. I don't really like Jena Malone in her role as Alyssa (Sam's love interest) but boy, those shower scenes were surprisingly intense.
Of course, you can find fault with this film. There are plot holes that rival the Grand Canyon (exactly what disease does George have again? Oh, wait, they don't actually say). Kristin Scott Thomas was duller than dirt for the first 75% of the movie. She warmed up after a while, but only she could deliver, deadpan, a line confessing that she hates her own son. The whole Mary Steenburgen/Ian Somerhalder line should have ended up on the cutting room floor; it had nothing to do with the plot and didn't involve any relevant characters. Kevin Kline was outstanding, but still, Hayden Christensen stole the entire movie out from under him.
If you're looking for big-name stars and perfect filmmaking, don't come within a mile of this movie. If you want a truly endearing, emotionally intense movie showcasing some very talented newcomers (and veterans), I highly recommend it.