Isn't the whole point of a movie to side with the protagonist? More so in a movie in which the lead has a chronic disease? But somehow this movie accomplishes in making you feel the opposite. I watched this movie only and ONLY for Martin Freeman, who I absolutely adore and love. But, god, his character is so unlikeable. He uses both his brother and his girlfriend and yet never really apologizes for using them. And doesn't have to face any consequences for using them.
All the characters are one-note: Charlie's the one with the disease, brother's the stereotypical handsome dummy who can't sustain a simple conversation with a woman, girlfriend's portrayed as a total weirdo, grandma's quirky, and all Francesca is, is "a total fox." I kid you not, over 5 times in the movie, we're told how hot Francesca is. Everyone - the brother, the dinner friend, the grandma - everyone comments on her looks. Like we get it; we get it, writers of 'Ode to Joy,' that your definition of a good looking woman is someone who's slim and sexy, because you keep hammering it to us over and over again, even going so far as to add (for a few chuckles, no doubt) that it's weird that the brother finds Rachel Ray attractive when he should find Giada de Laurentis attractive (who's much slimmer and svelte than Rachel Ray). Tell me you're fatphobic without telling me you're fatphobic...
Oh my god, this movie is so vapid. Gah! I expected so much more from a movie titled 'Ode to Joy' because I love simple, slice-of-life stories. I was expecting something nuanced, tender, believable, and I got this. I don't know if this was a paycheck movie for Martin Freeman, but I sure hope it was just that, because this is just disappointing...
All the characters are one-note: Charlie's the one with the disease, brother's the stereotypical handsome dummy who can't sustain a simple conversation with a woman, girlfriend's portrayed as a total weirdo, grandma's quirky, and all Francesca is, is "a total fox." I kid you not, over 5 times in the movie, we're told how hot Francesca is. Everyone - the brother, the dinner friend, the grandma - everyone comments on her looks. Like we get it; we get it, writers of 'Ode to Joy,' that your definition of a good looking woman is someone who's slim and sexy, because you keep hammering it to us over and over again, even going so far as to add (for a few chuckles, no doubt) that it's weird that the brother finds Rachel Ray attractive when he should find Giada de Laurentis attractive (who's much slimmer and svelte than Rachel Ray). Tell me you're fatphobic without telling me you're fatphobic...
Oh my god, this movie is so vapid. Gah! I expected so much more from a movie titled 'Ode to Joy' because I love simple, slice-of-life stories. I was expecting something nuanced, tender, believable, and I got this. I don't know if this was a paycheck movie for Martin Freeman, but I sure hope it was just that, because this is just disappointing...