This is a muted film, both in tone and appearance, and is the tale of a weak man whose failure to stand up to his wife exposes him when an outsider who is naïve but understanding of him appears in the family's life. His weakness leads him to value that understanding above his responsibilities, and leads him to disaster - a disaster which leaves him more firmly trapped than ever. There is a nice sub-plot which shows the hell of American High School in an understated way.
The script and direction avoid the temptation to take the sexual angle further than is required; in fact, it is hard to see why the film is rated 15. The performances are good, especially from Felicity Jones believably playing an 18 year old, despite being 27 at the time of filming. The settings and design are all that is necessary. In the last third credibility seems a bit stretched, but maybe not; the combination of youth and middle aged idiocy can be a potent one.
The script and direction avoid the temptation to take the sexual angle further than is required; in fact, it is hard to see why the film is rated 15. The performances are good, especially from Felicity Jones believably playing an 18 year old, despite being 27 at the time of filming. The settings and design are all that is necessary. In the last third credibility seems a bit stretched, but maybe not; the combination of youth and middle aged idiocy can be a potent one.